BNP Paribas Personal Finance makes commitment to young talent

BNP Paribas Personal Finance UK are proving how seriously they take their responsibility as a major employer in the region- as they have been named as a Cornerstone Employer by The Careers & Enterprise Company.

The Careers & Enterprise Company are a network of employers partnered with Careers Hubs across the country who are helping to bridge the gap between business and the next generation of talent.

Set up by the government in 2015, The Careers & Enterprise Company is the national body for careers education in England, supporting schools and colleges to deliver modern, 21st century careers education. As part of this, the organisation works closely with a network of Cornerstone Employers, like BNP Paribas Personal Finance UK, who help to educate and inspire young people in their local area.

Business partnerships senior manager at The Careers & Enterprise Company, Victoria Gage said: “Our Cornerstone Employers are part of a flagship group of more than 300 businesses across multiple sectors who work with networks of schools and colleges to transform the lives of young people.

“As well as helping to improve careers education, they also make sure that key skills for their sector are understood by teachers and education leaders, inspire students and champion jobs in their local area. ”

Jayne Licari, head of brand & external communications at BNP Paribas Personal Finance UK, said: “I first became involved with the Solihull Careers Hub as an Enterprise Adviser, and having seen first hand the brilliant work The Careers and Enterprise Company do to support young people across the region, I 'm delighted to now be representing BNP Paribas Personal Finance UK as chair of our local Cornerstone Employers group.

“As a major employer in Solihull, we 're committed to being a role model company and making a positive impact beyond our business - and this partnership is just another way we 're tackling youth unemployment and helping young people gain confidence to achieve their potential. ”

The obvious lack of careers education and growing skills gap and has been exacerbated by the events of the past 18 months, and according to a survey by The Careers & Enterprise Company, 98 per cent of teachers say their students have been anxious and uncertain about their future choices since lockdown.

Meanwhile, new statistics have revealed that Britain 's employers might be struggling to fill a record one million job vacancies amid the worst labour shortages in a generation - meaning these young people are in fact more in demand than ever before.

Lucy Lewis, Solihull Career Hub lead said: “Our mission is to help every young person find their best next step - whatever this looks like for them - and our Cornerstone Employers play a vital role in bringing a variety of job roles to life.

“We work with schools to ensure that young people have a clear idea of what they want to do after they leave education - and engaging with our Cornerstone Employers makes the different career options seem much more tangible and in reach. ”

Victoria added: “It 's also important to remember that not every young person has been given access to the same opportunities in life, and many of the young people we work with have faced additional barriers due to social and economic factors that are beyond their control.

“Our mission is to help level the playing field and empower every young person to reach their potential, no matter what their background is.

“By acting as an ambassador for their sector and helping to embed careers education into their organisations, Cornerstone Employers like BNP Paribas Personal Finance UK are helping to tackle disadvantage and drive better outcomes for young people. ”

“As we slowly start to emerge out the other side of this pandemic, creating career opportunities for young people will also be a massive part of economic recovery and social mobility for wider society too. And while the work we do is largely focused on inspiring and empowering young people, there are also lots of benefits for the business that work with us too.

“As well as introducing these young people to potential future employers based right on their doorstep, it also gives the employers themselves direct access to the next generation of talent, and a unique insight into what motivates these young people when they 're first starting off in their careers. ”

To find out more about becoming a Cornerstone Employer, visit: https://www.careersandenterprise.co.uk/employers/become-a-cornerstone-employer/