PwC promotes record number of partners
- Record 61 partners promoted – third year of increased investment
- 28% of new partners are female and 40% of new directors
- 45% of new partners work outside of London
- 4 new partners have flexible working arrangements
PwC UK has promoted a record 61 equity partners – the third successive year the firm has increased its new partner numbers. The newly promoted partners, aged between 32 and 51 represent a diverse range of backgrounds, skills and experience – with more women, flexible workers and people based in the regions moving into senior positions.
Nearly half (45%) of the new partner group are based outside of London, reflecting PwC’s commitment to investing in its business and clients across the whole of the UK.
In addition, nearly three in ten (28%) of the new partners are female – up from 23% last year. The number of future female leaders coming through the business is also strong – 40% of the newly promoted directors are female, up from 30% last year. PwC now has 174 female equity partners, more than any other professional services firm. One in five of the new partner group are aged 35 or under.
In addition, PwC has recruited 27 partners from outside the firm over the past 12 months – nine more than the previous year.
Ian Powell, outgoing Chairman and Senior Partner at PwC said:
“For a third successive year we have increased the number of new partners and have continued to improve the diversity of our senior people. These promotions reflect the importance we place on diversity, the role of the regions to the UK’s economic success and our commitment to investing in our people across all our client services.”
Kevin Ellis, incoming Chairman and Senior Partner from 1 July 2016, added:
“Developing a diverse and inclusive partnership remains an ongoing priority. Building on the progress of the last few years will be vital to our future success.”
Gaenor Bagley, head of people at PwC, said:
“Our aim to create a truly diverse workforce is starting to pay off and it’s great to see a higher number of female partners than last year. By focusing on diversity across all levels of the firm, right from apprenticeship and graduate entry through to the senior leadership level we are creating a workforce that more accurately reflects our clients and wider society.
“More of our new partners work flexibly, demonstrating that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all mould to being a partner in a professional services firm.”
PwC continues to recruit record levels of young people to the firm, and will take on more than 1,500 graduates and around 170 school leavers this year. The firm has pioneered new approaches to recruitment and assessment to open up access to the firm. This includes becoming the first major employer to remove UCAS points as a graduate entry criteria, sponsored degree programmes and offering the first Higher Apprenticeship in professional services. We have hired over 500 higher apprentices since we started the programme in 2012.
Source: PwC
