PraxisIFM is calling all Guernsey-resident prospective university students interested in gaining valuable workplace experience, to apply for its annual Bursary Award.
The scheme, now in its fifth year, gives local students the chance to explore the financial services industry and the range of roles available, while at the same time completing their degree. The chosen recipient will not only gain relevant industry experience with one of the world’s leading trust and financial services provider through paid summer work but will also receive a £2,500 annual bursary over any three-year degree.
Zachary Ellis, the recipient of the 2020 PraxisIFM Bursary and an engineering science student at Oxford University, shared why he was interested in the scheme: “I think a lot of parallels can be drawn between engineering and the finance sector. Mathematical and analytical skills underpin both, and they are comprised of tailored, complicated structures that serve specific purposes. The finance sector and how it operates is something that appeals to my interests and I wanted to learn more about it.”
Isabel Ives was the 2018 award recipient and has just finished her Criminology degree at Sussex University. Over the past three years she has gained varied experience in several of the Group’s departments and, due to initial uncertainty about whether the PraxisIFM offices would be open last summer due to Covid-19, even spent part of her paid summer work volunteering for charity Wigwam – a support group offering friendship, support and advice to the families of children and young people with additional needs.
“I loved the flexibility that PraxisIFM offered me last year in response to the pandemic,” said Isabel. “I was able to gain valuable office experience, while also giving my time to Wigwam, making my summer a very rewarding one. I’ve built upon my team-work skills, verbal and written communication, and attention to detail, all of which will all be transferable to any future career.”
Group Head of Human Resources Sharon Coburn encourages anyone interested in or curious about a career in an office environment to apply. “We’re very passionate about facilitating learning and development opportunities for our team and that extends to young people in the community wanting to explore this line of work or looking to get their ‘foot in the door’.
“Many employers look for graduates with relevant work experience and we feel it’s important as a large local employer to act as an enabler for those opportunities and provide varied work experience as part of our bursary scheme.”
To apply, students need to click here and complete an online form, including an uploaded copy of their CV, by midnight on Sunday 15th August.
The main image shows Sharon Coburn (left) and Zach Ellis (right).
