Technology

Posted on October 18, 2018 by staff

Event helps students explore world of FinTech

Technology

An event designed to raise the profile of FinTech opportunities in Birmingham and Leeds attracted almost 100 sixth-form students.

The PwC Industry Days, supported by Yorkshire-based social enterprise Ahead Partnership and held at PwC’s city centre offices, helped A-Level Computer Science and Maths students aged 16 to 18 years old explore FinTech careers opportunities in both cities.

The events saw 85 students – 78 of which were young women – engaged from nine schools and showed the students first-hand what a career in FinTech involves.

Students were given the opportunity to ask business volunteers questions about career journeys, entry routes and the benefits of working in professional services, while developing key employability skills – such as confidence and communication.

The event also included interactive workshops on augmented reality, virtual reality and cyber security alongside Q&A panels and business-style networking lunches.

“We worked closely with the team at PwC to design activity that will have real impact for students and help bring the world of FinTech to life for young people in Leeds and Birmingham,” said Ahead Partnership CEO Stephanie Burras.

“The industry is one of the most important for the UK, though it is relatively little known despite the fact we already lead in it globally – it is important that young people understand the opportunities and the professional services industry is critical in helping this happen.”

The FinTech Industry Days are just one component of a larger programme of activity being delivered by PwC and Ahead Partnership in Leeds and Birmingham, as part of a drive to improve diversity in the sector and increase the uptake of technology roles amongst females.

Katherine Bond, national schools engagement manager at PwC, added: “The Industry Days were developed to help increase sixth form student’s awareness of roles available in professional services and provide participants with an opportunity to quiz our technology apprentices and graduate scheme participants about what it’s really like to work in the industry, gaining insight into different routes and pathways into FinTech careers.

“We look forward to continuing to work with Ahead Partnership on other digitally focused activities such as the Digital Careers Panel series and #GirlTechBrum, which will see many more students, particularly females, engaged within this thriving and ever important sector.”

The PwC Industry Days are part of Ahead Partnership’s Make the Grade programme which has supported more than 150,000 young people to date with real-life, hands-on experiences designed by local employers.