Deloitte, Birmingham

BUSINESS advisory firm Deloitte employs more than 800 people across the Midlands with offices in Birmingham and Nottingham, providing audit, consulting, financial advisory, risk and tax services to a range of businesses in the region.

The firm’s capacity and expertise was further enhanced in March 2010 following completion of the merger with property consultancy Drivers Jonas, which significantly strengthened its existing real estate advisory capabilities.

In August, Deloitte reported UK revenues of £2.098bn for the year ended May 31, 2011, a 7% increase on the previous year.

It attributed this growth to strategic acquisitions, a focus on quality and bold investments in priority and emerging markets.

Chris Loughran, practice senior partner for Deloitte in the Midlands, said: “We are privileged to work with some of the region’s leading businesses – many of which compete successfully on a global stage.

“Like them, we have invested in further building our expertise in growth sectors where the Midlands’ boasts real critical mass – advanced manufacturing and technology, healthcare and life sciences, energy and resources; and capitalised on our real estate and tailored-entrepreneurial services.

“Crucially we have also invested in our own talent – we have a commitment to provide our clients with game-changing business advice, and this can only be achieved by equipping our experts with powerful insights and knowledge.

“In a tough climate, we have grown our business and this in part is because we have shared in the success of our clients.

“Their performance is as much a barometer of our own achievements as our financial results.”

The Midlands operation continues to go from strength to strength – this year boosting its numbers with in excess of 70 graduates, more than half of whom were recruited from local Midlands’ universities.

Deloitte has a strong focus on community investment and encourages its people to get involved in community and charity initiatives.

In the last year, the Birmingham office has raised £76,500 for charitable causes, in addition to providing more than £5m of pro-bono and discounted professional services and over 44,000 hours to community volunteering initiatives.

Mr Loughran added: “I was immensely gratified this year to welcome so many recruits from our leading local universities.

“We take our role as a corporate citizen very seriously – as a major local employer we have a responsibility to help this region retain its graduate talent and to give back to a community of which we are very much a part.

“A key element of our corporate and social responsibility strategy this year is to leverage our role as sponsor of the London 2012 Games, supporting elite disability athletes through our Deloitte Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme.”