BDO will offer more than 100 places to young people based in the North West this summer as part of an expanded UK-wide Insight Days programme designed to improve access to careers in accountancy.

The firm will host deliver four in-person Insight Days in July across BDO’s Manchester and Liverpool offices, giving 115 school, college and university students aged 16 and over the opportunity to gain valuable experience and learn about what a career in professional services could look like.

UK-wide, the expanded programme has more than 1,100 student places available and comes at a time of increased focus on youth unemployment and access to work experience. Students will participate in interactive workshops, employability skills training, networking opportunities and social impact activities at a BDO office local to them.

The programme supports the firm’s wider commitment to improving diversity and social mobility within the profession. It comes as new findings from BDO’s Young Minds 2026: The Unequal Advantage report show continuing gaps in access to work experience, careers advice and professional networks, specifically for young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds. The research shows that over two thirds (70%) of young people in the North West now use digital sources to inform their career decisions.

As part of its commitment to developing its people, the sessions will be run by BDO’s first year trainees across audit, tax, deals, and consulting, risk and outsourcing teams. The programme is designed not only to support students but also help BDO’s early career colleagues develop leadership, team building skills and community engagement skills through the firm’s citizenship initiatives.

Louise Sayers, Head of People, Culture and Purpose at BDO says: "The transition from education into the workplace can feel overwhelming for many young people, particularly those who may not have access to professional networks or workplace experience through family or personal connections.

“These Insight Days are designed to help young people better understand the opportunities available to them, build confidence and meet people who have already started their careers in the profession.”

Angela Cross, regional managing partner at BDO in the North West, said: “We’re incredibly proud that our own trainees are leading these sessions. It’s important that students can see relatable role models and hear first-hand experiences from people at the beginning of their own career journeys.”

BDO has been delivering targeted insight programmes for the last five years as part of its commitment to improving diversity and social mobility within the profession.

Since launching, more than 250 young people have participated in the Explore BDO and Black Heritage insight programmes, with more than 200 places available this year.

Find out more about BDO’s work experience here: BDO Work Experience: Early Career insights.