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Accountancy giant PwC has asked new recruits to suggest the hours they would like to work.

The firm PwC has launched a radical new scheme where some new recruits can propose the hours of the week they work.

It said the flexible approach has been adopted to try and attract workers who may not want to be tied to traditional hours like 9am to 5pm.

New recruits are encouraged to list their skills and preferred working hours when they apply and it is hoped the new approach will attract more diverse talent.

The BBC reported that PwC said it wanted to embrace the gig economy after a study found almost 46 per cent of 2,000 respondents said they prioritise flexible working hours when choosing a good job.

PwC's chief people officer, Laura Hinton, said: "People assume that to work at a big firm they need to follow traditional working patterns. We want to make it clear that this isn't the case.

“In order to recruit the best people, we recognise that we need to offer greater flexibility, different working options and a route back in for those looking to restart their careers."

She added that offering flexible working hours was not only good for staff, but business, the economy and ultimately society as well.

“We're likely to see a rise in people transitioning in and out of work throughout their careers and those organisations who responsibly support their people to do this will ultimately gain a competitive advantage,” she said.