We are so pleased to see our Accelerated Progress Programme (APP) nominated as a finalist at the European Diversity Awards 2025, a recognition of its success in driving socio-economic inclusion within the financial services sector.
The APP is a pioneering, cross-firm management development programme designed to address the significant socio-economic disparities in career progression. Research indicates that individuals from lower socio-economic backgrounds take 25% longer to progress than their peers, with no correlation to job performance. The APP seeks to bridge these gaps by providing a unique learning path that combines upskilling with immersive on-the-job learning, sponsorship, mentoring and network building.
The groundbreaking 12-month initiative, co-created with Progress Together and sponsored by Nationwide Building Society, empowers high-potential employees from low socio-economic backgrounds in financial services. Over 12 months, participants engaged in over 100 hours of structured development, including leadership training and attending technical knowledge sessions on digital skills, ESG, and AI. The first graduation took place on the 17th September 2025.
Over the past year, 18 trailblazers from our pilot firms – Nationwide Building Society, Paragon Banking Group PLC, Yorkshire Building Society, and Coventry Building Society – embraced a transformative development journey:
- 8 high-impact leadership workshop
- Cross-firm mentorship pairings
- Industry secondments to broaden networks
- 3 cross-industry projects with real-world impact
But the real story lies in the people. APP has unlocked confidence, skills, and career momentum for participants who are now stepping into the future as leaders. By working together responsibly, we’ve set a precedent for future cross-sector initiatives, demonstrating that with the right safeguards and shared purpose, meaningful collaboration is not only possible but powerful.
A heartfelt thank you to our participants, mentors, pilot firms, and our delivery partner TLC Lions. The graduation marks the end of this pilot, but the movement is only just beginning.
