TRAINING THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW: Developing partnerships between colleges and financial services

The Collab Group of Colleges has launched its latest publication which calls for closer cooperation between financial services and the further education sector. In a time of huge uncertainty and disruption the need to acquire and retain the next generation of talent is more pressing than ever.

Barclays has found great success by broadening the search beyond traditional graduate recruitment.

The publication: “Training the leaders of Tomorrow: Developing partnerships between colleges and financial services,” sets out key areas where closer cooperation can be developed between education and industry.

Social mobility and recruiting from a diverse talent pool are key areas for organisations to consider and the document provides in depth insights into the value of T-levels and degree apprenticeships.

The publication focuses on:

• A social mobility approach to talent recruitment– Barclays was an early adopter of apprenticeships to tackle youth unemployment and increase social mobility.

• T-Levels: how will they work in practice? – Barclays is positive about the concept of T-Levels but concerned about their execution and what they mean in practice.

• Creating better pathways- Barclays apprenticeships are an industry role model. The bank pays the London Living Wage, not the apprenticeship wage, with a guarantee at the end that the apprentice will step up a pay grade immediately upon completion

Ian Pretty Chief Executive of Collab Group said:

“This publication sets out an agenda for how closer cooperation between colleges and the financial services sector can be developed. The financial services sector has a huge impact on the economy; last year it contributed £119 billion which represents 6.5% of total economic output. The talent needs of the sector are considerable and Barclays has found great success by broadening their search to focus on behaviours and attitudes rather than on qualifications alone. Closer cooperation between financial services and colleges make sense. Collab Group colleges are interested in working proactively with industry to think about how you develop talent pathways that will learners lead to success.”