Applications to PwC’s A-Level entry scheme HEADstart received more than 800 applications this year for 60 vacancies, double that of 2008, and up 25% on last year. James Chalmers, board partner, strategy and talent, PricewaterhouseCoopers, says: “We’ve no doubt that interest in schemes like ours is only going to grow over the next 12 months, following students’ recent experiences of budget cuts, rising debts and fewer places.