Ethnic Minority Initiatives at Bank of England

Open to all staff, the Bank of England Ethnic Minority (BEEM) Network represents all colleagues in this community

BEEM aims are to ensure that:

• All staff feel fully included in the Bank family
• The Bank celebrates the cultural diversity of its staff
• Ethnic Minority staff are empowered in their roles and the Bank will help them develop, progress and realise their potential in their Bank careers
• Those outside the Bank perceive the Bank is inclusive and empowering for ethnic minorities

This scholarship programme is a key part of our commitment to attracting and inspiring the best people to public service.

The scholarship offers financial support to students from Black or Mixed African or Caribbean backgrounds who will be starting their undergraduate degree courses at UK universities.

Successfully apply, and you could receive up to £30,000 over the course of your undergraduate degree, as a contribution towards your living expenses and other costs of study. You’ll also be offered two paid summer internships with us, as well as other skills training and support throughout your time at university.

African & Caribbean Diversity

In February the Community Relations team held its annual event with African & Caribbean Diversity (ACD), an organisation the Bank has been working with since 2003. ACD recruits 30 to 40 high achieving pupils each year and, over the course of the year, can work with up to 150 pupils at different stages of a four-year programme which teaches them about the value of education and encourages their aspirations. The programme begins each year with a university residential course and over the months delivers workshops, facilitates company visits and creates mentoring partnerships.

The ACD pupils enjoyed a tour of the Museum and had the opportunity to hear all about the work taking place to prepare for the release of the new £5 polymer note in September. There was also a Careers Networking session with volunteers from across the Bank and an event run by the Early Careers team to help the students increase their success in getting their dream job. An evening reception was held and the students presented on what they had learnt to their families and invited guests. A number of those invited were interested in becoming mentors for ACD and over 15 people signed up on the evening.

Many people from across the Bank are mentors to ACD pupils and have worked with their mentees for a number of years. Stephen Brown, Head of Internal Audit, said “It has been an honour to work with ACD over the last four years and a wonderfully enriching experience to mentor Ayo who is now at University – to be honest I think I get more out of our sessions than he does! I would encourage anyone in the Bank to consider mentoring an ACD student and can guarantee that they will find it a rewarding experience