EY invests in growing its operations in Yorkshire

Following a strong performance over the first nine months of its financial year, pre COVID-19, EY has reported 5% UK revenue growth and hired over 3,000 people, including new staff in Yorkshire.

EY’s UK fee income grew to £2.6bn in the financial year ending 3 July 2020, increasing from £2.5bn the previous year.

Revenues in Strategy and Transactions grew 9.4%, Tax grew 8.1% and Assurance grew 7.8%. Growth in EY’s UK Consulting practice declined on previous years by 4.7%.

Hywel Ball, EY’s UK chairman, said: “We have grown significantly while continuing to invest across the region, progress our ambitions on social mobility and diversity, and support the well-being of our people during what has been a difficult time for many.

“The first nine months saw a strong period of trading. COVID-19 dramatically changed the business environment during the last quarter of our financial year but we continue to take prudent steps to ensure we are well positioned for the future.

“We have however not used the Government’s furlough scheme or lending facilities.

“I’m really proud that EY has been able to play its part during the pandemic, whether that’s helping pharmaceutical companies to ensure the effectiveness of their supply chains, the various central, devolved and local governments to manage their unprecedented level of support for people and businesses or the NHS to build new hospitals and deliver the best possible coordinated response.”

Business growth enabled EY to invest in its people with a number of strategic hires and internal appointments across its 500-strong Yorkshire practice.

EY welcomed a total of 39 graduates and apprentices across Yorkshire in September 2020, reinforcing its investment in the region.

The firm’s Leeds office welcomed 21 graduates and 11 apprentices, while three graduates and four apprentices joined its office in Hull.

EY adjusted its student recruitment programmes for a virtual environment to ensure graduates and apprentices were still able to undertake client work and work towards their professional qualifications, despite COVID-19.

Suzanne Robinson, office managing partner for EY in Yorkshire, said: “Young talent is essential to our future business success and to shaping the skills we will need to remain competitive.

“I’m really proud that we maintained our commitment to student recruitment this year, despite COVID-19, and that we’ve honoured all the conditional offers we made prior to A-level results.”

EY has also made a series of senior appointments, supporting the local presence of a number of its service line teams.

In April 2020, Adam Barraclough joined as an associate partner and senior M&A and finance specialist in EY’s Strategy and Transactions team, based in Leeds.

This August, Alexandra Fogal joined as an associate partner and head of private for Yorkshire and the North East following 17 years with Barclays.

Andrew Jones arrived in December 2019 as associate partner in the Yorkshire Indirect Tax team to work with businesses across the region, advising them on VAT and indirect tax matters such as betting and gaming duties.

This year, EY also appointed one equity partner and one associate partner in Yorkshire from within EY.

Kate Jarman, now a partner in the firm’s Assurance team based in Leeds, joined EY from university in 2004, after completing a summer internship with the firm.

In addition, Penny Isbecque was promoted to associate partner. She has worked in EY’s Tax team in Leeds for 20 years where she initially founded the Yorkshire Global Trade practice. She advises companies on global trade and both customs and excise duty matters.

Robinson added: “These significant appointments demonstrate our long-term investment in our regional business, and mean we are well positioned to serve the North of England’s leading companies – both through the current economic challenges and through the next stage of recovery.”