Case Studies
Companies that have linked into the Fresh Futures in Financial Services programme so far include Reuters, Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse, Canary Wharf Group, Allen & Overy, Marsh, Cameron McKenna, FSA, Deutsche Bank, London City Airport, and Linklaters. Many of these companies have been involved with the Community Affairs Trainee Scheme (CATS) programme, conceived by East London Business Alliance (ELBA) and supported by training put together in conjunction with Tower Hamlets College. The programme places local graduates into Community Affairs or Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) departments.
Intern Dilwara Khatun said: "Taking part in the CATS programme has given me a chance to work for a successful corporate firm. Being a young Bengali female I have broken a tradition of women not working independently, and I am making a success of my life. Thanks to CATS, I have become a representative of my community and now I can act as a role model for young Bengali girls. I am proud to be able to play my part in raising the aspirations of many young people in Tower Hamlets and also break the unemployment barrier that sadly exists," Khatun continued.
Dobir Hussain, intern at Morgan Stanley and soon to be a full time employee, said: "CATS has been hugely beneficial for me. It has given me the opportunity to gain in depth knowledge in a wide variety of fields and provided me with invaluable work experience in corporate and public sectors. I feel that this has equipped me with all the skills needed to make a great success of my career at Morgan Stanley."