A programme to support prospective and existing students towards succeeding in higher education is to be extended and developed thanks to a new partnership with investment banking company Goldman Sachs, which announced its new regional hub in Birmingham earlier this year.
The Pathways to Birmingham (PtB) programme is designed to offer students from years 12 and 13 onwards an insight into higher education and professional career routes, supporting them through their university application process. P2B then assists them throughout their studies at Birmingham and into their career, with a holistic range of support which Goldman Sachs will help deliver.
The programme supports undergraduate students who attended one of the university’s 240 PtB partner schools across the West Midlands where individual circumstances often mean students face a multitude of barriers in attending higher education.
Goldman Sachs’ involvement with the programme includes financial support alongside ongoing mentorship and upskilling opportunities for students. Goldman Sachs will look to provide internships, work placements and insight days to students, enabling them to improve their employability and future prospects. The donation will also help the University of Birmingham employ a member of staff to coordinate the delivery of this partnership. Goldman Sachs will explore opportunities to engage with the wider university spanning across guest lectures and talks, as well business development opportunities.
Professor Tim Jones, Provost and Vice-Principal of the University of Birmingham, said: “Goldman Sachs’ donation and ongoing involvement enables us to extend and enrich the support we offer to Pathways to Birmingham students. That means we can raise the aspirations of even more students who might not otherwise go to university, and break down more of the barriers currently preventing them from applying.”
Brigit Simler, EMEA Head of Human Capital Management, said: “We are excited to support the University of Birmingham and the incredible work they do within the Pathways to Birmingham programme. As a firm, we are passionate about providing equal opportunities and supporting young people to reach their potential – this new partnership will allow us to work towards our shared ambition of levelling the playing field, and sparking economic growth for people and communities. As a University of Birmingham alumni myself, I am delighted to be back at a place that holds so many fond memories.”
While Goldman Sachs will support the wider PtB network, they are particularly keen to support students studying STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects.
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