Teenagers get paid City jobs before starting university

SCHOOL leavers are taking on jobs for the summer holiday to see what the working world has to offer even before they start university. The 85 teenagers are choosing to get a head start in the competitive job market before enrolling in university by getting paid work placements on a business traineeship programme

SCHOOL leavers are taking on jobs in the City of London for the summer holiday to see what the working world has to offer even before they start university.

A group of 85 teenagers are choosing to get a head start in the competitive job market before even enrolling in university education by getting paid work placements on a City business traineeship programme.

The 16 to 18 year-old trainees attended an introduction to 'the art of networking' held at Allen & Overy international law firm HQ at Spitalfields in London's East End. They then work throughout the summer for up to 13 weeks on placement, earning the going rate, in some of the Square Mile's most renowned companies and organisations including the Bank of England and the City Corporation itself.

The City Corporation's policy & resources chairman Stuart Fraser said: "This programme means students don't come out of three years at university bewildered by job prospects, but instead go into their degree course with an eye on the end goal and the sort of career they want."

Trainees are drawn from schools and sixthform colleges in the 'City fringe' boroughs such as Tower Hamlets, which the Square Mile is now recognising as an untapped area for new, talented employees.