PwC in the Midlands has recently welcomed 96 new graduates to the firm and 35 of them have graduated from Midlands-based universities including the University of Birmingham, University of Nottingham, Loughborough University, Aston University and the University of Warwick. 

Nationally, PwC has hired about 1,100 graduates to date in 2010 and of these, 236 were formerly students at universities in the Midlands. The University of Nottingham is amongst the firm's top source of graduates for the fifth year in a row.

Mark Smith, regional chairman at PwC in the Midlands, said:

"We have excellent links with universities across the Midlands and this has enabled us to recruit some very high-calibre graduates again this year.

"With the regional economy expecting low level growth for the next few years and the effects of the public sector spending cuts soon to be felt, the new graduates are entering the job market at a challenging time. However, they now have an opportunity to develop a long and successful career.

"It is crucial that we continue to invest in recruitment in order to strengthen our local teams. We believe that local businesses and organisations both recognise and appreciate this investment back into the local economy."

The majority of the new graduates starting at the firm in the Midlands are joining the assurance and tax teams.

Nationally, PwC recently opened recruitment for over 1,200 graduates and 400 interns and placements to join the firm in 2011. In the space of just six weeks, over 5,500 applications have been received from students and graduates.

PwC has been voted the UK's number one graduate employer for the seventh consecutive year in The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers survey and also in the UK300 survey, which is based on the views of over 17,000 final year university students.