Professional services firm KPMG has signed up 11 students to take part in its annual internship programme.

The 12-week scheme is aimed at university students who see a future in accountancy, finance or business.

Wanda Armstrong, senior manager for human resources at KPMG, said: “This year’s candidates were selected based on this criteria and we look forward to seeing their progress in the programme.”

The programme, which started earlier this month, will give students a taste of audit training and include a two-week project for seven charities.

Work will include drawing up an America’s Cup business plan for the Bermuda Zoological Society’s floating classroom and research boat Endurance.

Other tasks involve cleaning an e-mail database and delivering an automated maintenance programme.

Students will also create a survey and review files to make statistical graphs and establish a new database for volunteers, membership and contacts and update a referral booklet for clients of the service.

KPMG said the projects were designed to give the students a chance to use their initiative and creativity, under a mentor, and help them improve on their presentation skills as they deliver their findings and recommendations to management and staff at KPMG and the senior executives of the various charities.

The eleven interns and the universities they are attending are: Brianna Buchanan, attending the University of Alabama; Chelsea Warren, Oakwood University; Ciara Rego, University of Tampa; Asia Smith, Middlesex University; Clevon Cunningham, St John’s University; Anna Harrington, University of Western Ontario; Nikari Furbert, Johnson & Wales University; Justice Edness, Acadia University; Justine Dzofonoo-Burch, New England Institute of Technology; Simone Wales, Alabama A & M University; and Daniel Nash, attending University of Southampton.

The students will take part in the Centre on Philanthropy’s summer intern community day next month.

In addition, the students will take part in professional development workshops aimed at developing useful business skills such as how to dress, communication, listening and interview techniques and how to conduct a business dinner.

They will also plan and deliver KPMG’s annual summer student networking event, K-Nect, to be held at Rumbar on Victoria Street next month.