Drivers of enduring positive change
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As the world grappled with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on daily life, the spirit of those who put the needs of the community before their own shone through. These individuals reached out to those affected by the lockdown and supported vulnerable communities.
We are proud that many colleagues at Barclays’ Hong Kong were unwavering in their commitment to give back to local communities, helping bring about positivity in times of despair.
Hope during the pandemic – when every effort counts
“The willingness and passion of Barclays’ colleagues who volunteer their time, skills and expertise is an integral part of how Barclays delivers its Citizenship commitments.” – Anthony Davies, Chief Executive, Hong Kong, Barclays
Across the globe, young people have felt first-hand the economic and social impact of the pandemic. Many traditional large employers in Hong Kong, including retail businesses, had to shut down due to the pandemic, leaving a large number of the labour force unemployed.
The Barclays Summer Academy, a four-week employability programme, supports ethnically diverse young people into work. Colleagues in Hong Kong have been supporting this programme with their time and skills for the past six years. When the pandemic struck, Heidi Lee, a Barclays employee, along with Vandelra Kwan, helped pivot this programme to be delivered virtually. The Zubin Foundation identified participants that needed support, and the programme was delivered successfully throughout 2020 and 2021.
“With Barclays’ support for the programme, there has been a discernible positive shift in the mindset of the young people we work with. They are better prepared, willing to try harder and are more hopeful. This, for us, means more than anything else in the world,” said Shalini Mahtani, Founder and CEO, The Zubin Foundation.
More than 80 colleagues supported participants and 140 sessions were delivered, covering resume writing, career planning, interview skills and experience sharing, with 60 people being placed into work.
Heidi, remarked, “I am thankful to have had the opportunity to bring hope and support to those who needed it. And I’m so proud of what we’re doing for our communities.”
Sharing the same unwavering commitment is Vandelra, who has actively contributed towards numerous Citizenship activities.
As part of this initiative, eleven colleagues, came together to support around 30 people by organising a Workplace Cantonese training session. Training sessions such as these equip individuals from ethnically diverse backgrounds with employability skills and help place them into jobs.
Rose Feng, another Barclays employee spread Christmas cheer during the pandemic by delivering close to 300 hygiene kits and stationery to families from low-income groups in partnership with OneSky Foundation.
Given the far-reaching impact of the pandemic, there has been a continued need for coordinated efforts to provide COVID-19 relief, especially to marginalised communities in Hong Kong.
As Rachel Huf, General Counsel Asia Pacific, Barclays mused, “Our partnerships, coupled with the contribution of our colleagues, help make a positive and enduring difference in the world – teaching us that we create a greater impact when we pull together as one team.”
Ideas for a better tomorrow
The Unreasonable Impact programme – a global partnership between Unreasonable and Barclays – supports high-growth entrepreneurs in addressing societal and environmental issues by ensuring that their solutions reach new markets, transform more lives, and create thousands of jobs in the process.
Barclays’ colleagues lean in to share their expertise, to brainstorm expansion ideas and help the ventures scale up overseas and expand into new markets.
The Executive Sponsor for Unreasonable Impact, Lars Aagaard, Head of M&A and Financial Sponsors, Asia Pacific, Barclays shared, “Barclays is deeply invested in nurturing entrepreneurship to drive sustainable growth. Key to this journey are our colleagues who step up to mentor, sharing their deep knowledge and rich experience. We are very grateful for this ecosystem and for the value we can provide as one team.”
A sense of purpose
There are many colleagues like Heidi, Vandelra, Rose, and Joanne, bound by a strong sense of purpose to give back to their communities. Rising to the occasion in times of need, Barclays colleagues continue to make a difference.
Every year, hundreds of Barclays colleagues contribute their time and expertise – whether it is to help people gain employability skills, strengthening the local community or the environment, or in supporting the most vulnerable groups of people. When the efforts of colleagues are actively supported by their organisation, as Barclays does, global corporations can ensure they play a positive role in society.
About Barclays in Hong Kong
Since its establishment in Hong Kong in 1972, Barclays has been actively involved in the market. Over the past five decades, Barclays has evolved from a retail bank and a jointly-owned merchant bank, to its current role as a Corporate and Investment Bank. In this time, Barclays has helped to finance some of Hong Kong’s biggest infrastructure projects, hosted the first-ever Premier League Barclays Asia Trophy pre-season tournament, and
sponsored events for a variety of causes. 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of Barclays’ presence in Hong Kong, and they are looking forward to many more ahead.
Learn more: https://www.cib.barclays/
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