28 March 2008
City firm visits transform the futures of students in the
Fringe boroughs
City of London Corporation's Careers Open House Scheme opens
door to 1,000th child
Thursday 27 March saw the 1,000th child go through the City of
London Corporation’s Careers Open House scheme since it began in
April 2006. 25 children from Peckham Academy, Southwark visited
Bloomberg as part of the City of London Corporation’s ongoing
commitment to raising awareness amongst young people in the
boroughs neighbouring the Square Mile of the career opportunities
in the City.
The scheme offers schoolchildren aged 12 to 14 in the City
fringes the unique opportunity to visit leading City firms such as
UBS, Merrill Lynch, Bloomberg and Reuters. Here, they see exactly
how these firms work, meet career role-model employees and are
given an insight into jobs available as well hearing about the
variety of routes to get to these positions.
Research by the City of London Corporation reveals that, before
taking part in Careers Open House scheme, 71% of young people in
the boroughs fringing the Square Mile knew little or nothing about
working in the City. Following the Careers Open House scheme, 74%
of young people said they could see themselves working in the City
and 88% felt they understood what a career in the Square Mile would
entail.
Michael Snyder, Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s
Policy and Resources Committee who conceived the City of London
Corporation’s Careers Open House scheme said, “As one of the
world’s leading international financial centres we have a
responsibility to build bridges to the disadvantaged areas
neighbouring the Square Mile, some of which are the most deprived
communities in the UK. We’re committed to raising the awareness and
aspirations of City fringe students to careers in the City.”
“The Careers Open House scheme exerts a powerful motivational
influence on young people. Through the scheme, students get
first-hand experience of the City of London, home to some of the
world’s most dynamic companies and many will see for the first time
the wide career opportunities which are on their doorstep.” The
City of London Corporation’s Careers Open House programme is
designed to be as inclusive as possible for students. The careers
profiled on the day include those suitable for a variety of
abilities, ranging from graduate positions to those not requiring
academic study beyond the age of 16. The students meet both male
and female employees from a range of ethnic backgrounds.
Careers Open House is funded by the City of London Corporation
and delivered by a consortium of Education Business Partnerships
(EBPs) from the London Boroughs of Hackney, Tower Hamlets,
Southwark and Islington led by Inspire!, the EBP for Hackney.
Ends
For further information or quotes, please contact Rain UK -
Carie Barkhuizen or Rosalind Jeffcoat or Louise Ambridge on Tel 00
44 (0)20 7222 4345 or email
carie.barkhuizen@raincommunications.co.uk
Notes: The City of London Corporation is the sole funder of the
Careers Open House programme, one of the City of London Corporation
initiatives to help regenerate boroughs neighbouring the City. The
scheme is delivered on the City of London Corporation’s behalf by
Inspire!, the Education Business Partnership for Hackney.
The City of London Corporation is the “business authority for
the business district” and supports the international financial
services industry based in the UK, with its heart in the Square
Mile. It provides local authority services for the Square Mile but
also works across wider London and UK.