Business sector: Banking
Number of employees: 55,000 (UK)
Language(s) supported: French, German, Spanish;
brief introduction to Chinese, Japanese and Russian.
Headquartered in London, HSBC is one of the largest banking and
financial services organisations in the world. Its international
network comprises around 8,500 offices in 86 countries and
territories in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the Americas, the
Middle East and Africa. Globally the organisation employs some
335,000 people. HSBC is a 2009 BLC award winner.
Summary of engagement
HSBC’s Business Language Champions scheme has been
set up and is managed by trainees on their graduate programme in
London. Through a two part ‘package’, which consists of a
half-day’s series of in-school language workshops and a half-day’s
visit to HSBC’s world headquarters in Canary Wharf, HSBC trainees
work with Year 9 pupils to promote languages in business.
Objectives of employer engagement:
- To increase the uptake of GCSE languages.
- To introduce students to the multiple use of languages in a
broader, business context.
- To generate awareness of an exciting range of career
opportunities available to those possessing an additional
language.
- To impart an appreciation and understanding of different
cultures.
Engagement activities:
- School visits
Half-day
language workshops ran by a team of Executive Management Trainee
volunteers are held at partner schools for Year 9 students. Drawing
on a bank of interactive language-driven activities, HSBC
volunteers demonstrate how languages are pivotal in today’s global
marketplace. Recent workshops were conducted for 140 pupils at John
Kelly’s Technology College and a further 140 at Wrotham
School.
- Workplace
visit
Students are given a tour of HSBC’s world
headquarters at Canary Wharf where they gain an insight into the
global business environment. As part of the visit, students also
receive talks from members of the bank’s leadership team, who use
languages in the course of their daily working life. By the end of
the visit, students understand that languages offer a ‘unique
selling point’ in the contemporary workplace.
Impact on school and
students:
- Hampton Community College has reported record numbers in the
uptake of languages at GCSE level.
- Almost 100% of participating students from John Kelly’s
Technology College said that they were now considering taking a
language at GCSE.
- Student feedback also reflects the positive impact the
workshops are having on changing attitudes towards language
learning.
- The partnership with HSBC and Carshalton Girls’ School and the
possibility of winning a place on an activity day with the bank
captured students’ imagination. The competitive selection process,
comprising exercises in French, German or Spanish, generated a real
buzz among students.
Student
quotes:
"Languages can get you far in a
career.”
"Languages can really open up your opportunities in the world of
work.”
"Language learning isn’t just useful for a job application but also
for when you go on holiday. Also, it helps understanding of
cultures.”
Impact on business:
- The BLC project has become a core part of the
wider community programme at HSBC, and staff members who have
already left the graduate trainee scheme have registered their
interest in continuing in the programme.
- The project has bridged the gap between
recent graduates and senior management, who have become involved
and will help drive the project forward in the future.
- The current project coordinators at HSBC are
actively working with graduate trainees in the Midlands to
replicate the London scheme in the region.
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