Professional services firm KPMG is to double its school leaver intake from 90 to 180 in 2012, following the launch of its new School Leaver Programme.  

The first year’s intake of students have now joined the firm and will study for an accountancy degree at either Durham or Exeter Universities.  

The scheme combines a job, a university degree with tuition fees paid, a professional accountancy qualification and a salary.

From September next year, applicants will have the choice of doing their degree at the University of Birmingham in addition to Durham or Exeter.

Oliver Tant, head of audit at KPMG, says: “We are delighted to welcome the first intake of students onto our new School Leaver Programme. We want to widen access into our profession for young people from all backgrounds. It is vital that we cast our net as wide as possible to seek out and invest in the very best people that are the future of our business.

“We also believe that employers have an important role to play in helping to meet the costs of higher education — as it is employers that benefit from the results of higher education, it seems only right that they should also contribute.

 “We have been very encouraged by praise received from businesspeople, politicians and educationalists for the scheme. As a result, we encourage other businesses to pilot such schemes. Businesses need to help provide new models for the future.”