Empowering young people

Education programmes

Our education programmes aim to raise the aspirations and improve the educational attainment of disadvantaged young people. With our community partners, we drive social mobility through the development of life, employability and interpersonal skills.

London

Arrival

We have partnered with Arrival for over 15 years championing the advancement of young people from underserved communities and diverse ethnic backgrounds.

Arrival 15-Year Report

We have partnered with Arrival for over 15 years championing the advancement of young people from underserved communities and diverse ethnic backgrounds. With the support of over 500 employees, this enduring partner has significantly impacted the lives of over 2,800 young people by empowering them to unlock their potential and pursue fulfilling careers.

With nearly 10,000 hours of volunteering completed, we are proud of the dedication of our people in helping to shape the careers of aspiring young people and their contribution to championing diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Arrival 15-Year Report

London

Morpeth School

Morpeth School is a co-educational comprehensive school in Tower Hamlets, east London. It serves young people aged from 11 to 19 who reflect the diversity of the local community. Since 2002, Investec has supported Morpeth School with funding for various activities aimed at developing skills, overcoming barriers and helping students achieve their life goals.

Since the partnership began, we have provided additional support for students transitioning from school into employment, further education, or training. This year 60 pupils received assistance through the Investec funded bursary, which covers laptops for sixth form and university, formal clothing for job interviews, and travel costs for the first two months of apprenticeships. We also supported 265 pupils to navigate their future career paths through a careers interview with a qualified advisor. Exposure to higher education can motivate pupils to further their education and learn about various courses and programmes available to them. This year we funded 2 university trips for 418 pupils.

In July 2024, we sponsored 26 pupils to complete the Duke of Edinburgh expedition at the South Downs National Park. This expedition fostered essential life skills such as leadership, teamwork, and resilience, which is valuable in personal and professional settings. We also partially funded the school's breakfast club, providing around 50 pupils with a healthy breakfast each morning. Another highlight was the celebration of National STEM Day, where we hosted an insight session into tech for 12 female students from Morpeth School at our London office to spark their interest in a tech career. Supported by seven Investec employees in tech team, students had the opportunity to learn more about their roles and gain hands-on experience.

Despite improvements in educational outcomes, many young adults still struggle to break into their desired first professional role. The transition from education to the working world can be challenging, and many are seeking guidance and support as they embark on the first steps of their career.

In October 2024, in partnership with Arrival, we launched the Career Catalyst programme to support unemployed and underemployed young adults break into a professional career path. The programme centred around skill development in four key success areas in the job application process and navigating the workplace.

Over the course of six months, 27 young adults participated in four in-person sessions and received 1:1 coaching, with the support from Investec volunteers. Forty-one Investec volunteers collectively donated 133 hours of time to support the group to increase their skills and confidence to reach their full potential.

" It’s a life-changing experience that pushes you to grow, improve existing skills, and gain new ones. The programme provides invaluable opportunities to meet people who can help you understand the career path you’re considering and expand your network’ – Career Catalyst talent

“Just seeing her with this new confidence and how she is working towards achieving goals, makes me feel so proud. I think seeing may be the value you have added to someone's life was such a nice thing to see.” – Investec volunteer coach

100%

of the talent agreed that taking part in the programme had better prepared them for their future

76%

of the talent saw an increase in understanding what it takes to be successful in the job application process

71%

of the talent saw an increase in confidence in navigating the workplace upon landing a professional role

Investec Group sustainability report 2025

Learn more about our commitment to sustainability in the past financial year.

Download the report

Project grants for charities

We support small and medium-sized charities through grants for specific projects. In the last financial year 2024/25, we allocated £68,322 to 20 charities for initiatives supporting their local communities. These projects included empowering young people to secure long-term employment and implementing financial education programs in primary schools. If you represent a charity that falls under our focus areas – education, entrepreneurship, and/or environment - and are local to one of our UK offices, you may be eligible to apply for a grant. Please read the full criteria below to find out more and get in touch.

Criteria for charity grants

Read our sustainability reports

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020