London Stock Exchange Group And City Gateway Launch New Financial Apprenticeship Scheme

 London Stock Exchange Group has partnered with London based charity, City Gateway, to launch a new scheme to help young people, aged 16-24 years old, take part in apprenticeships in the financial services industry. The ‘Gateway to the City’ initiative will pioneer a new pathway into the sector, by providing participants with year long apprenticeships and training at both London Stock Exchange Group and fellow scheme partners.

The special programme has been specifically created for apprentices hoping to work in one of the world’s most vibrant industries, improving their longer term career prospects by providing support and knowledge alongside a NVQ in Business Administration. The additional training will focus on business writing, presentation skills, IT, career planning, teamwork and networking.

To celebrate the launch of the programme, this year’s twelve apprentices took part in the Market Open Ceremony at London Stock Exchange this morning, alongside Xavier Rolet, CEO of LSEG; Shabana Mahmood, Shadow Exchequer Secretary; and Eddie Stride, CEO of City Gateway.

Xavier Rolet, CEO, London Stock Exchange Group, said: “One of London’s great qualities is the diversity of its population and fully harnessing this makes great business sense. As an organisation we are delighted to launch this important new programme for young people and I wish all those taking part the greatest success.”

Shabana Mahmood MP, Shadow Exchequer Secretary, said: “I am very encouraged to see the financial services industry providing new and exciting apprenticeship opportunities for young people. The Gateway to the City initiative will deliver valuable training and support to those at the start of their careers who may otherwise not have been provided it. I wish the scheme the greatest success and encourage other financial services companies to join London Stock Exchange Group and its partners.”

Eddie Stride, CEO, City Gateway, said: “We are delighted to be opening up a new gateway between careers in The City and the local community. We are really grateful to London Stock Exchange Group for helping us develop an apprenticeship scheme directly suited to financial services. London needs more employers to create meaningful apprenticeships with a view to a career and we hope more employers will follow suit.”

The following companies are taking on apprentices: London Stock Exchange Group, Standard Chartered, Societe Generale and Allianz Global Investors. The scheme is also supported by Credit Suisse, Pinebridge Investments and Vanguard Asset Management.

The initiative follows as a result of the successful partnership between London Stock Exchange Group and City Gateway as part of The Evening Standard Ladder for London campaign, which encouraged business across the capital to hire unemployed young people as apprentices.  As a result of this programme, London Stock Exchange Group hired a number of participants on a permanent basis. 

For more information on City Gateway apprenticeships: www.citygateway.org.uk or email jonathan.featherstone@citygateway.org.uk