HOW WE’RE PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE FINANCE WITH TEACH FIRST AND GEMSERV
2024-02-21 12:16:54.0
At BNP Paribas Personal Finance UK, we’re committed to making a positive impact in our local community and a key part of this commitment is supporting young people in education.
That’s why BNP Paribas UK has teamed up with Teach First and Gemserv to launch the BNP Paribas “Leaders for a Changing World” programme to help close the attainment gap and educate young people on the road to net zero.
Leaders for a Changing World
Teach First is an educational charity on a mission to help children across the UK fulfil their potential and Gemserv is an energy consultancy offering impactful services to help the UK’s transition to net zero.
Together, our partnership aims to support equal access to education, level up the focus on sustainability in school curriculums, and equip the next generation with the skills and knowledge needed to help the UK reach net zero.
Launched in September 2022 at our BNP Paribas HQ in London, the programme is live with BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions in Bristol, and now with BNP Paribas Personal Finance UK’s involvement, the programme will be delivered in the West Midlands.
Focusing on sustainable finance
As part of the Leaders for a Changing World programme, we have developed a series of lessons focused on sustainability and aligned to the GCSE curriculum, which are freely available on TES for teachers and educators across the country to download and deliver to students. Links below:
- Powering a Net Zero Future - GCSE Physics
- Sustainable Financing for a Net Zero Future - GCSE Business Studies (volunteer-led)
- Sustainable Cities and Urban Environments - Air Pollution - GCSE Geography
Using expertise from colleagues across the business, the “Sustainable Financing a Net Zero Future” lesson plan offers an introduction to sustainable finance in a way that is accessible and interactive, and can be delivered by BNP Paribas volunteers.
As part of this lesson, students studying GCSE business studies will develop a deeper understanding of the various sources of finance, the advantages and disadvantages of each source, and how sustainable finance sources play an important role in reaching net zero targets.
A number of lessons have already been delivered by BNP Paribas Personal Finance colleagues volunteering as Teach First Ambassadors at Alderbrook and Lode Heath schools in Solihull.
Making a positive impact
One colleague at BNP Paribas Personal Finance UK who has stepped forward as a Teach First Ambassador is Sukhpal Kaur, Customer Service Advisor.
Sukhpal joined BNP Paribas Personal Finance UK as an apprentice after completing a work project with us as part of the Digital Innovators Skills Programme and was eager to get involved in this Teach First opportunity.
Sukhpal said: “I’m excited to take part in this programme and support other young people to develop their skills around sustainable finance as a Teach First Ambassador. Having joined BNP Paribas Personal Finance UK as an apprentice after completing my studies in business, I know I would have found these kinds of sessions really helpful whilst I was at school.”
Miss Jagdev, a business studies teacher at Lode Heath School, added: “The lesson on sustainable finance, delivered by volunteers from BNP Paribas Personal Finance, encouraged great engagement from students, bringing learning to life with relevant content for the students’ GCSE business studies course.”
The “Leaders for a Changing World” programme also forms part of BNP Paribas Personal Finance UK’s wider volunteering commitments — to give back 1,200 hours to the local community.
As part of this partnership, we hope to engage with 150 students across the West Midlands and enhance their understanding of sustainable finance.
For regular updates on the programme, make sure you’re following our LinkedIn and X accounts.