Press Release
On Thursday 22nd September, The City of London Corporation and The Brokerage Citylink celebrated the 16th year of the City of London Business Traineeship Programme. The celebration evening, held at Markel International, commended students and employers that have demonstrated an outstanding performance throughout the internship programme.
Jeffrey Mountevans, Lord Mayor of the City of London, was welcomed at the event to congratulate participants on the programme and present the prestigious employer and trainee awards.
Global investment banking and asset management firm, William Blair was awarded Employer the Year with judges being particularly impressed with the in-depth experience that the trainees had during their time at the company.
“Developing talent is a priority for William Blair. The young professionals we work with through the programme with The Brokerage continue to make us proud and foster our culture of learning and development,” said Matt Gooch, head of European investment banking.
Recent research* undertaken by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) found that many young people feel it’s difficult to get the experience they need to get the job they want. The findings revealed that just 51% of 16-18-year olds say that their school offers work experience, compared to 64% of those now aged 19-21.
Schemes such as the City of London Business Traineeship Programme enable young people in London to get the relevant and meaningful work experience they need to be able to succeed in the workplace.
Marsh, a global leader in insurance broking and risk management, scooped the Employer Newcomer of the Year award after taking on a group of ten trainees who were placed in divisions across the business.
Project Champion, an award that focusses on a specific individual that has gone above and beyond to support the trainees placed at their firm, went to Rebecca Reynolds at law firm DWF.
The City of London Business Traineeship Programme helps state school students from the City’s neighbouring boroughs to develop the skills needed for a successful career in the Square Mile by providing them with 6-13 week paid internships at around 25 of the City’s most prestigious businesses. Around 100 young people gained internships this year after participating in a competitive employer-led recruitment process.
20 year old Barkhadle Yusuf from Camden, who completed his internship at DWF, was named Trainee of the Year whilst Westminster teenager Samy Radwan was awarded Highly Commended Trainee of the Year for his time spent within the Global Markets division at Société Générale.
For more information on the City of London Business Traineeship scheme, please visit: www.thebrokerage.org.uk/cbt
ENDS
Media contact:
Jo Turrell, Marketing and Communications Officer, joanne@thebrokerage.org.uk, 0207 628 9904
Stephanie Basten, Media Officer, Stephanie.basten@cityoflondon.gov.uk, 020 7332 1528
For photographs and additional information please contact the press contacts above.
* report: Age of Uncertainty: Young people’s views on the challenges of getting into work in 21st century Britain
NOTES TO EDITORS
About The Brokerage Citylink:
The Brokerage Citylink is a charity based in the City of London that works in partnership with employers, volunteers and schools to help young Londoners achieve their career potential by providing experiences of work, employability skills and jobs in financial, professional and related services. The charity has been building links between employers and the local communities surrounding the financial districts since 1996.
See more information about The Brokerage Citylink at www.thebrokerage.org.uk
About The City of London Corporation:
The City of London Corporation provides local government and policing services for the financial and commercial heart of Britain, the ‘Square Mile’. In addition, the City Corporation has three roles: (1) we support London’s communities by working in partnership with neighbouring boroughs on economic regeneration, education and skills projects. In addition, the City of London Corporation’s charity City Bridge Trust makes grants of more than £15 million annually to charitable projects across London and we also support education with three independent schools, three City Academies, a primary school and the world-renowned Guildhall School of Music and Drama. (2) We also help look after key London heritage and green spaces including Tower Bridge, Museum of London, Barbican Arts Centre, City gardens, Hampstead Heath, Epping Forest, Burnham Beeches, and important ‘commons’ in south London. (3) And we also support and promote the ‘City’ as a world-leading financial and business hub, with outward and inward business delegations, high-profile civic events, research-driven policies all reflecting a long-term approach.
See www.cityoflondon.gov.uk for more details.
