Catching up with our banking and finance students

It’s midway through our first Pathways to Banking & Finance cohort’s year, so we took the opportunity to catch up. We asked our students for their highlights so far, and what their ambitions are for the future…

“It is an amazing opportunity to experience the workings of the financial sector, even if you don’t know that you want to go into banking, it gives you an invaluable insight.”

“There are more job roles available within the banking sector than I thought – it’s not just about trading. Also, you don’t need a degree in finance to enter the industry, which is a common misconception that I believed.”

“It has helped me gain knowledge of the sector I would not have been able to find myself, and also work experience in high-profile companies I wouldn’t have otherwise been able to arrange”

“The programme opens your mind so much and you get to explore what the finance world is like” 

“The programme has encouraged me to aim high, not care what anyone thinks and to learn from my mistakes” 

“I am keen to apply to study Maths or Finance and focus more on the subject out of school. I’m also going to try to make the most out of the networking I have access to.”

“I want to apply for an apprenticeship in one of the big firms!”

Pathways to Banking and Finance was set up by the Sutton Trust with the generous support of Deutsche Bank to inspire and assist students looking to explore careers in the Financial sectors.

Run in conjunction with the University of Warwick and the London School of Economics, the programme supports 100 students and is made up of a range of activities including: university sessions about finance; insight days; e-mentoring; university application and CV guidance; a residential at the University of Warwick.

The programme was set up following Sutton Trust research showing that 34% of recent intakes and 51% of leaders in the banking sector who were from the UK went to independent schools, which make up only 7% of the school population. The programme was launched in 2017 and aims to address this disparity.

Deutsche Bank’s Born to Be programme uses education-led programmes to unlock the potential of the next generation by aiming to increase achievement, develop employability skills and raise aspiration.