Professional services company PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has taken on 125 graduate trainees.
The recruitment is part of its pledge to take on 1,000 employees nationwide this year and PwC has revealed 43 of the graduates plan to join the financial services sectors.
Sonja Stockton, head of student recruitment at the firm, said there has been a 38 per cent increase in applications for its full-time programme this year.
She added: "Our requirements haven't changed. PwC are looking for drive, energy, commitment and proven intellectual rigour so that we can confidently invest in our people's skills to last a lifetime."
According to the company, 31 per cent of those employed were over the age of 25 years, compared with 18 per cent last year - which may reflect the changing dynamics caused by the economic downturn.
Meanwhile, Anne Fairweather, head of public policy at the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, has claimed graduates cannot just rely on their degree to get them noticed and they must think about what other experiences they have.
