Professional services firm KPMG is to increase its planned UK intake of graduates, school leavers and interns from 900 to over 1,000 for September 2010. This is due to growing signs that market demand for accountancy, tax and advisory services is set to rise, according to the company.

The move follows KPMG’s announcement in February that it was raising its graduate intake for September to 750, meaning that total intake including interns and school leavers would be over 900.  However, continued growth plans mean that the firm will now hire 70 graduates more in September, bringing total intake back to levels last seen in 2008.

The extra graduate places will be divided between Tax and Audit, and mean that the firm will be recruiting some 820 graduates this year, with 500 in audit, and tax and advisory accounting for roughly 150 places each.

Michelle Quest, head of people at KPMG in the UK, says: “There is a perception in the market place that there is nothing available for students in the current economic climate, and indeed many students may have given up even looking.  

“However, the signs are – in other employers as well as KPMG – that the situation is improving.  There are places for the right people.”