Young Banker goes global
The Chartered Banker Institute’s Young Banker of the Year Competition is once again set to showcase tomorrow’s leaders in UK banking. And this year, for the first time in its history, the competition is international.
Going global
Each year since the competition’s launch in 1987, the Institute invites applications from individuals with fewer than 15 years’ experience in banking, who are employed in a deposit-taking or lending institution. Candidates do not need to be members and, for the first time, the Institute is now welcoming applications from across the globe.
In a further first, this year the award is being supported by the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI). Simone Dettling, Banking Team Lead, UNEP FI was on the panel of judges for the 2020 competition. She commented in a recent blog that “the ideas presented were so inspirational, with so much potential for banks around the world, that it was immediately clear that we needed to bring them to the attention of a much wider audience beyond the UK”.
Career-changing
While contestants’ ideas for improving outcomes for customers, colleagues, and communities – in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals – have often been implemented by their institutions, reaching the final can be a career-changing opportunity.
For 2019 winner Sarah Walker, her experience of the competition was amazing from start to finish. She says: “It has benefited me in a number of ways, including improving my confidence and public speaker, and has also given me exposure to senior leaders in my organisation.”
Liam Gover, 2016 finalist, says that the confidence he gained during the competition has helped him when talking to senior stakeholders in his organisation or when pitching for and successfully winning new clients.
Rising stars
Winner of the 2014 award, Jamie Broadbent was Customer Proposition Manager in RBS’ business banking operation when he wowed the judges with his proposal involving connecting small businesses with funding needs to local crowdfunding communities. This showcased him as a rising star within RBS. “Almost immediately it opened a lot of doors with our senior executives, which was really quite an awesome experience. It was game-changing in terms of giving me the next steps on the career ladder.” Broadbent is now Head of Digital and Innovation at RBS International.
While this year’s competition has ‘officially’ gone global, 2020 winner Tippie Malgwi – who started his banking career in Nigeria – believes that the contest is already of international interest. Malgwi, of Arbuthnot Latham & Co, who impressed with his proposal of targeted banking solutions for people living with disabilities, serious injuries and severe medical conditions, says that the digital format of last year’s live final enabled friends, family and colleagues to cheer him on. Malgwi also won the Audience award for the candidate who, in the opinion of the viewers, best personifies the high, professional standards expected of bankers through their presentation.
Showcasing the future
The search for the 2021 UK Young Banker of the Year is well underway. On 7 October, the final four candidates will present their ideas to our live virtual audience. The judges will then choose who to announce as the Young Banker of the Year 2021.
Bill McCall, Chair of the Chartered Banker Institute said: “This great competition continues to showcase the best, the brightest, the most brilliant young people on whom the future of banking will be built.”
Register to attend the virtual final here.
To hear more from Simone Dettling about the partnership and what going global means for the competition, watch our webcast, or for recent judges’ perspectives on the competition, turn to pages 56-58 of the Spring 2021 issue of Chartered Banker magazine.