'Gown to practice' link up for students.

STUDENTS at Huddersfield University are set to get one step ahead of the competition in the hunt for jobs.

Students reading accountancy are linking up with top Yorkshire accounting firms to get a taste of the real world.

The collaboration, organised by Michael Woodhead, one of the university's council members, sees experienced business professionals getting involved with students' day to day learning, including teaching, lecturing and mentoring.

Students then get the chance to put their theoretical skills into practice at some of the region's biggest accountancy firms including, KPMG, BDO Stoy Hayward and Grant Thornton.

In total 10 firms are taking part in the "gown to practice" partnership.

A similar scheme with the local law firms was launched 18 months ago and Mr Woodhead said he was delighted to see his second project coming together.

He said: "We want to have a relationship between businesses and education to encourage students to come here.

"Hopefully they will get a degree but they also want to know if they will get a job with one of the top firms at the end of it.

"The companies are putting their experience back in to ensure they're getting the right people coming through."

The firms taking part in the project get a University of Huddersfield-sponsored glass plaque and an official certificate from the chancellor Patrick Stewart.

Mr Woodhead, one of Huddersfield's most successful businessmen, made it in the financial industry in the 1980s, and was joint founder of BWD Securities, a stockbroking firm based in Leeds.

Hailing from Almondbury he left Kayes College in 1966 aged just 16.

Having been appointed to the university's council in 2003 he said he was very proud to be putting something back into the community..

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COUNCIL MEMBER: Michael Woodhead