Deloitte comments on initiative launched to improve social mobility across the accountancy profession

David Barnes, managing partner for public policy and corporate responsibility at Deloitte, said: “Deloitte fully supports the Access Accountancy initiative and is committed to the measures outlined in today’s launch. As a signatory we commit to providing high quality work experience to talented applicants from all backgrounds, helping to raise awareness and generate interest in accountancy in schools, and collecting and sharing the socio-economic background data of young recruits.

“The six largest accountancy firms have always been big providers of jobs for the young: on average they employ a graduate every two hours but we recognise our responsibility to improve social mobility and provide greater access to all levels of society. It is important that accounting firms and professional bodies are now held responsible for the efforts they make in widening their socio-economic representation.

“This is a crucial development for accounting and will ensure that all talented individuals, regardless of their background, have an equal opportunity to begin a career in the profession.”

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Notes to editors

About Deloitte
In this press release references to Deloitte are references to Deloitte LLP, which is among the country's leading professional services firms.

Deloitte LLP is the United Kingdom member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (“DTTL”), a UK private company limited by guarantee, whose member firms are legally separate and independent entities. Please see www.deloitte.co.uk/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of DTTL and its member firms.

The information contained in this press release is correct at the time of going to press.

Member of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited.