EY has appointed three new partners in Scotland and announced a 10 per cent increase in student recruitment across the country. 

The internal promotions include Nicola McIntyre and Julie Cavin, both from the firm’s audit service, and Iain Wintour from tax. They bring the total number of partners in Scotland to 33. 

The promotions follow the recruitment of 97 graduates and apprentices across EY’s offices in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow, up from 88 in 2019. They include 83 graduates and 14 apprentices.

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EY said it has adjusted its student recruitment programme for a virtual environment to ensure its new recruits can undertake client work and progress towards their professional qualifications despite Covid-19 restrictions. Of the new pool of recruits, 41 per cent are female and 21% from ethnic minorities. 

“Young, diverse talent is essential to our future business success in Scotland and to shaping the skills we will need to remain competitive,” financial services managing partner Sue Dawe said. 

“Our clients expect us to consistently bring fresh ideas and solutions, with technology in particular playing an increasing part in the insights we offer, and so remaining committed to hiring young people is a key element of our strategy.”

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Based in Glasgow, Ms McIntyre’s cross-sector remit includes retail, consumer products and manufacturing, though her main sector focus is energy. She has extensive experience with UK listed companies and works with a growing portfolio of mid-market firms. 

Ms Cavin joined EY three years ago after 10 years in London with a rival Big Four firm. Based in Edinburgh, she will work primarily with mid-sized businesses in the transportation, retail, consumer and manufacturing sectors. 

Also based in Edinburgh, Mr Wintour is part of EY’s corporate tax practice which has grown its headcount by 50 per cent in the last three years. In addition to leading the tax team in Edinburgh, he will focus on growing the firm’s footprint in the infrastructure and renewable energy sectors.