Standard Chartered wins prestigious Lord Mayor’s Dragon Award for its UK Futuremakers RISE programme
on October 17, 202317 October 2023, London, UK — On Tuesday 10 October, The Lord Mayor of London, Nicholas Lyons, awarded Standard Chartered a prestigious 2023 Dragon Award1 in the Inclusive Employment category for Futuremakers RISE, an employability and mentorship programme delivered in partnership with the East London Business Alliance2 (ELBA).
The awards ceremony took place on Tuesday evening at Mansion House where winners were recognised for their achievements in social impact. The Inclusive Employment Award celebrates businesses that are promoting social mobility and removing barriers to employment and progression for disadvantaged, underrepresented or minority groups, creating a more diverse and inclusive London workforce.
RISE is a volunteer-led employability and mentorship programme delivered in the UK3. The programme has been developed to align to Futuremakers, the Bank’s global initiative to tackle inequality and promote greater economic inclusion for disadvantaged young people4 , and is designed to remove barriers to work and progression for Black and minority ethnic young people from low-income local communities.
Over a period of eight months, young people on the RISE programme are exposed to three key areas of intensive support, covering mentorship, career insights and preparation for the world of work. Carefully selected workshops are delivered by volunteers who share expertise, skills and career insights to help demystify the world of work and raise awareness of the multitude of careers and career pathways that exist in the City of London, where the Bank’s global Head Office is located.
Through RISE, the Bank is demonstrating the value in increased transparency of the recruitment process so that talent who are not familiar with, nor have the network to navigate this space, are able to participate with confidence and successfully apply for roles in the corporate world and beyond.
Sonia Rossetti, Regional Head Corporate Affairs, Brand & Marketing for Europe and Americas, Standard Chartered Bank, said: “Standard Chartered is thrilled that Futuremakers RISE is a 2023 Dragon Award winner in the Inclusive Employment category. The award fills us with immense pride as we recognise the impact achieved through the RISE programme and our commitment to creating a diverse workforce for all. It is testament to the powerful partnerships with our colleagues, the East London Business Alliance and the young people in our communities who bring this programme to life.”
Ian Parkes, CEO, East London Business Alliance, “We are delighted that the partnership between Standard Chartered and ELBA has been recognised with this Dragon Award. We are so proud of the work we do together and this award is recognition of the importance of making sure every young person gets a fair chance to make the most of their opportunities. Everyone has dreams and aspirations, and Standard Chartered is making a real difference in these young people’s lives by helping them develop the skills and confidence to reach their goals in life. We are thrilled to get this recognition from our peers, and it spurs us on to do more.”
1 Dragon Awards | Celebrating Business Impact in Society
2 ELBA (elba-1.org.uk)
3 See Notes to Editor
4 sc.com/futuremakers
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For further information please contact:
Claire Newell
Head of Communications for UK and Europe
Standard Chartered Bank
Tel: +44 (0)207 885 8857
Email: Claire.newell@sc.com
Notes to Editors
About Standard Chartered:
We are a leading international banking group, with a presence in 53 of the world’s most dynamic markets, and serving clients in a further 64. Our purpose is to drive commerce and prosperity through our unique diversity, and our heritage and values are expressed in our brand promise, here for good. Standard Chartered PLC is listed on the London and Hong Kong Stock Exchanges.
For more stories and expert opinions please visit Insights at sc.com. Follow Standard Chartered on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.
About Futuremakers by Standard Chartered:
Futuremakers by Standard Chartered (Futuremakers) is Standard Chartered Bank’s global initiative to tackle inequality and promote greater economic inclusion in the Group’s markets. Futuremakers supports disadvantaged young people, especially girls and people with visual impairments, to learn new skills and improve their chances of getting a job or starting their own business. sc.com/futuremakers
About ELBA:
East London Business Alliance (ELBA) builds the connection between businesses and local communities, bringing the time, skills and resources of the private sector, to help build the capacity of local organisations, support young people in education and place people into employment in London. ELBA makes community investment easier, more effective and more rewarding, whether through face-to-face activity or online. ELBA finds creative, ingenious and impactful ways to support local communities. Each year over 12,000 people from business give back to over 200 local organisations through ELBA, using their skills, time, ideas and commitment to help in a very wide range of activities. Everything they do is needed in the local community and will have an impact. elba-1.org.uk