BNP Paribas Security Services (BNPP)

The Securities & Investment Institute (SII) is a professional body providing progressive examining, training and membership activities for those working in the investment industry internationally. Around 35,000 SII examinations are taken annually across the UK and 30 countries around the world and the Institute has provided services for 43 of the world's top 50 banks. Tower Hamlets College have a partnership with the SII in order that local people can access training and qualifications provided by the SII.

The SII introduced Employment Solutions at the college to BNP Paribas. (BNPP) BNPP has a presence in more than 85 countries worldwide, therefore boasting an extensive global banking network. The company had expressed a desire to explore ways of increasing diversity in their security services and investment banking division, based in the City of London.

Employment Solutions staff worked with the bank in order to prepare candidates for a nine month internship with the company. The emphasis was on ensuring that the 3 candidates put forward for the internship were fully aware of the demanding nature of the global banking, in addition to having undergone extensive employability preparation on the Graduate Management Training programme developed at Employment Solutions (similar to that detailed under Lehman Brothers) and having passed the SII Introduction to Investment Award level 3 qualification as prerequisites. Candidates were coached on a one-to-one basis about what to expect in BNP Paribas, and were prepared for interview both through interview practice, but also through testing their knowledge about the bank and ensuring that they were suitably motivated by key staff at Employment Solutions. The approach combines positive training interventions for disadvantaged groups with private recruitment consultancy methods of baseline preparation for employability with the development of focused company knowledge to enable a real fit between individual aspirations and company ethos.

One SII graduate trainee was selected for a 9 month internship, financed by BNPP on a salary of £350 per week. Following the success of the internship a further 3 month work placement was offered by BNPP’s Human Resources division in the City Headquarters. During the period of the work experience placement the candidate received £50 a week from Employment Solutions at Tower Hamlets College, plus travel and subsistence provided by the employer. Additionally, BNP Paribas committed to training the intern on PeopleSoft, a complex and state-of-the-art Human resource management and business solution software package used by global companies. The company were clearly committed to supporting the placement in a very positive manner. The method used demonstrates that the approach is almost ‘try before you buy’ allowing the company to ensure that candidates have the necessary skills and aptitude before committing to employ them. The initiative is very positive as it demonstrates a practical approach to equal of opportunity and empowerment through the internship approach – the candidates could not have met the job requirements on the open market as they did not have experience. The result of the work experience placement was that the person placed was offered a £24k job shortly before it was due to end.

Due to the positive impression that was made by the original intern, the partnership between the company and Employment Solutions has now developed with further placement opportunities being offered.