Graduates get off to a flying start

Yesterday saw the graduation of the first group of students from Newcastle University’s prestigious BA (Honours) Business Accounting and Finance degree programme.

This unique degree (named the Flying Start programme) brings together the expertise of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Newcastle University Business School and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).

The degree is the first of its kind in the UK and combines academic study with paid professional work experience and an accelerated route to qualifying as a chartered accountant.

All three organisations are delighted with the programme and the excellent quality of the students graduating. Almost all of the graduates have now started their careers with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP either in Newcastle or offices across the UK and can expect to qualify as chartered accountants in the next 12 months.

The degree is also a great example of how universities, business and professional bodies can work together to deliver a high quality education for students with a strong professional orientation.

Rob Jones, Director of Studies, Newcastle University added:

“Newcastle University is proud to be the only University in the UK to have established such an attractive programme of study together with PricewaterhouseCoopers and the ICAEW. The programme attracts excellent students from across the UK and internationally and during the programme students develop their academic and practical professional skills to a high level.

"The students have worked hard over the four years of the degree and the graduation ceremony is all about celebrating their achievement and success.”

Dr Raymond Madden, Executive Director of Learning and Professional Development at ICAEW commented:

“Flying Start is an innovative degree programme that links academic theory with real business. Today’s graduates now have an excellent foundation to build a career in professional services and graduates can take an accelerated route to qualify as an chartered accountant (ACA). The ACA is one of the most prestigious, and technically demanding professional accountancy qualifications internationally.

"Students will ultimately join 128,000 members in over 140 countries who hold this qualification. Of the current 101 CEOs, CFOs, FDs in the FTSE 100 companies who hold an accountancy qualification 70 per cent qualified with the ACA, making this the qualification for business leaders.”

This year, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP was named The Times newspaper No 1 graduate employer for the third year running and in the last year, the Newcastle office has grown from 270 to over 300 staff.

Paul Woolston, senior partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in Newcastle said:

“PricewaterhouseCoopers believe greatly in fostering and retaining the region’s graduates along with supporting the local community which we believe will help to further strengthen our practice and our local expertise.

"It is wonderful to see so many of our Flying Start students graduate and achieve the success they deserve. I would like to welcome our new graduates to the firm and wish them all the best with their careers at PricewaterhouseCoopers. ”