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Through our commitment to being a responsible business, we aim to provide our colleagues with value-add engagement opportunities. Utilising our collective time, skills, knowledge and resources to make a positive and lasting difference, addressing societal issues identified at a micro level.

Activities that support financial literacy or mental health are key overarching Group-wide themes for our investment support, but we also conduct research to identify the most pressing issues at a local level.

Programmes that aid social mobility and provide access to quality educational opportunities are key to helping us eliminate any unfair advantages. We positively support society and look to create a more socio-economically diverse workforce.

Future in Finance digital careers platform 

As part of our DEI strategy we’ve funded the creation of a new digital platform, Future in Finance.  The platform provides tailored career advice and opportunities for a range of under-represented groups, particularly focused on reaching those from low socio-economic backgrounds at scale. Diverse pools of talent will be supported on their journey into good quality employment and financial education, this includes tailored content and aligned mentors.  

To support our strategy, we’re creating a focused journey for Carers .  The Social Mobility team are working with our charity partners, Carers Trust and Carers UK, to reach a wide range of Carers who will benefit from this new initiative.  The first Impact report will be created in September. 

Discover Finance 

Discover Finance is a sector collaboration to tackle social mobility and broaden the talent pool for Financial Services. Firms in similar locations join together to offer work-experience, enabling students to better navigate the sector, build networks and get the career-ready skills. Each firm host students for a day at their office for an insights-style work experience supported by host volunteers.  

Career Ready 

The Career Ready programme provides 12-month mentoring and  4-weeks paid internship to students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. This involves providing essential skills and knowledge for career advancement and financial education.  

Work experience plus 1 

Our plus 1 programme builds on the work experience that we offer to friends and family and provides a ‘plus 1’ to students from low socio-economic backgrounds without professional networks. 

East London Business Alliance – ELBA 

Working with ELBA Boardmetch initiative,  colleagues are matched with community organisations to become Trustees.   

Colleagues also work on team events to build capacity within a community charity organisation across a 3 month period as well as providing financial Literacy workshops.