Twelve
investment banks are offering ethnic minority undergraduates work experience as
part of a recruitment initiative to improve diversity in the industry.
A
total of 180 undergraduates will take part in the Capital Chances project,
which has the support of the Commission for Racial Equality and the African and
Caribbean Finance Forum.
Each
student will gain experience in two of the participating banks, taking part in
business games and activities based on ‘real work’ scenarios. They will also
have the opportunity to talk to senior City figures, recent graduates and the
banks’ graduate recruiters.
Of
the students who participated in the programme last year, 53 per cent are in
the process of applying for internships.
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Pam
Farmer, head of private sector policy at the CRE, said: "In global
business, race and nationality are irrelevant – talent is everything. Capital
Chances encourages banks to recruit from all areas of the talent pool."
Brenda
King from the African and Caribbean Finance Forum said: "Attracting and
retaining the best talent irrespective of colour or background should result in
a company with workforce that is better equipped to win."
