Alpha FMC

Diversity & Inclusion Programme: Partnership with The Sutton Trust

 

Earlier this year, Alpha Diversity & Inclusion programme formally launched its partnership with The Sutton Trust – a pioneering educational charity dedicated to improving social mobility and achieving equality of opportunity through practical, evidence-based programmes, as well as widely published research and policy advocacy.

Through this partnership, Alpha will be participating in the Sutton’s Trust’s ‘Pathways to Banking and Finance’ programme. The programme was launched in 2017, together with the London School of Economics and Warwick University, in response to research conducted by the charity into the relationship between educational opportunity and professional success. The research identified that despite only 7% of the UK population having attended an independent school, 34% of recent graduate intakes and 51% of leaders in the financial services industry have benefitted from such education. The 2-year ‘Pathways to Banking and Finance’ programme seeks to contribute to redressing this imbalance, by equipping the highly academic participants from lower socioeconomic groups with experiences that will develop many of the soft skills they will require to build a successful career in the industry.

As part of Alpha’s support for the initiative, Neil Curham (Global Chief Marketing Officer) and Sarah Hedges (UK Culture & Social Mobility lead) recently led sessions at The Sutton Trust’s residential summer school for programme participants. The interactive sessions provided an overview of what a career in management consulting would entail, before introducing the students to competency-based interview questions, in preparation for future internships, apprenticeships and graduate schemes that they may go on to apply to.

Later in 2018, Alpha will be inviting the students back to our head office in London for an evening. During this time, the students will have the opportunity to complete a group case study, to give them a flavour of the day-to-day work that they could expect to be involved with, if they elect to pursue a career in the industry. The evening will also include a panel Q&A with representatives from all levels at the organisation, from graduates through to Executive Directors, with whom the students will then have the opportunity to network.

Through our partnership with the Sutton Trust, we look forward to continuing to contribute towards increasing the inclusivity of our industry, creating one in which candidates can excel based on potential and ability alone, irrespective of their background.

Alpha is committed to supporting, and growing, a diverse team and providing an inclusive work environment.

Alpha’s global Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) initiative sets the strategic D&I objectives for the firm. Our D&I which is currently supported by four core delivery teams; Cultural Diversity & Social Mobility, Gender Equality, Pride and Wellbeing.

To find out more visit our D&I page.