Tax programme lures high achiever
PEOPLE always assumed Jasmine Cope, a high achiever who skipped a year at the Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School in Aylesbury, would go on to university.
But Cope, who turns 17 tomorrow, turned her back on higher education after the tuition fees increase left her “unable to justify” finishing her studies with so much debt, instead becoming the youngest-ever person recruited to PwC’s school leaver programme.
“Before the fees increase I was aiming for the best universities, so I aimed for the best in professional services,” Cope told City A.M. “I wanted a job that was logical for my maths and science skills that also involved getting out of the office to meet clients.”
Cope, who was yesterday celebrating her A* in English Literature, B in Biology and C in Maths – well above the 260 UCAS points required for the PwC scheme – started the tax training option on 1 August, where she is paid a “competitive” entry-level salary. “I’m really enjoying it so far,” said Cope, who plans to work her way up to a “leading role” at the firm after she qualifies as a chartered tax adviser in four years’ time.