Reinventing education and empowerment for young people: Delta Capita’s grassroots mission

The fifth International Day of Education, held on 24 January 2023, will call for strong political mobilisation around education under the theme ‘to invest in people, prioritise education’.

The United Nations proclaimed the International Day of Education to raise awareness of the importance of learning in fostering peace, sustainable development, and economic growth. Around the world, governmental, educational, and civil society organisations use the day to promote their learning-related activities and initiatives.

Human rights campaigner Malcom X once said, ‘Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.’ This sentiment has and will continue to echo through the generations.

Education is vital to the world of work because it:

• provides individuals with the knowledge and skills to succeed at work
• generates a more productive and innovative population, supporting economic growth and prosperity
• accelerates social mobility and equality as it empowers individuals to improve their economic status
• encourages personal development, helping people lead more satisfying lives and understand themselves and the world better.

While education is not the only thing you need to achieve success or equality, it is a key ingredient.

Empowering the next generation

In the rapidly changing economy, it is critical for students to gain the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in the workplace. Empowering young people through career-related initiatives can help them build confidence, and prepare for the jobs of today and tomorrow.

Studies have shown three main benefits to providing students with career-related initiatives such as internships, apprenticeships, and other programmes.

These initiatives help young people:

• make more informed decisions about their career paths
• bridge the talent gap by equipping them with sought-after skills
• find and take advantage of new opportunities. For example, students who receive training in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) are well-positioned to take opportunities in these growing fields.

These benefits can help mitigate the impact of economic downturns and provide a pathway to a better future.

My grassroots experience

I was raised in Walthamstow, East London, where I attended a mixed secondary and a sixth form school. While the school's reputation, teaching and personal development were rated good by Ofsted, only two of 80 sixth-form students would usually receive an offer from Oxford or Cambridge.

At the time, I thought, ‘What is the point? I do not know what career path to choose. I only have hospitality experience. If only two individuals can receive such an offer, everyone else will go for the remaining highly-rated universities and I will not stand a chance.’

But my school tried its best to implement career-related initiatives throughout my student journey, such as work experience weeks, mock interview days and career insight sessions. Four months into my sixth form, myself and another student were selected to participate in a career insight programme at the Royal Bank of Scotland. Activities comprised group work, individual presentations, and speaker events from industry experts.

This programme equipped me with the skills and knowledge essential to succeed in the workforce. It also gave me motivation and a clearer mindset on what route to follow after my A-levels.

Five years later, I have two degrees and work at Delta Capita with the most prestigious clients!

I cannot attribute all my success to the career-related initiatives at school. But without them, I would have remained in a self-sabotaging mindset, and I may not be where I am today.

Delta Capita’s Grassroots Mission

Our mission is to break down preconceived ideas and myths that young people have about financial services, and empower them to become the best possible versions of themselves.

The Grassroots workstream aims to demonstrate that anything is possible, and that there is no such thing as ‘one size fits all’. Regardless of background, heritage, gender, or sexuality, everyone can do anything they set their mind to – it’s just about having the knowledge to get there.

To help achieve these goals, we have partnerships with:

• Spark! Charity
• Gunnersbury Catholic
• Urban Synergy  
• London College of Creative Arts University
• Bishop Justus COE School
• Saint Francis Xavier Sixth Form
• Mulberry School For Girls
• Mulberry Schools Trust.

Support from Delta Capita

Delta Capita wants all our employees to feel included, regardless of their heritage, beliefs, or background. Employees that feel supported feel happier, and have more sense of belonging and engagement at work.

Are you looking for a new workplace that values diversity and employee wellbeing? Check out our latest vacancies here. Also find out how Delta Capita are reinventing the workplace through employee-centric projects at our Reinventing Hub.

This article is part of a series about reinventing support and inclusion for employees. Other articles in the series include disabilities, neurodiversity, South Asian Heritage Month, Black History Month, Pride, Father’s Day, Eid al-Fitr, Ramadan and Easter.