London Banks seek lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students!

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) university students are invited to apply for one of 150 places at Londonís annual inter-bank LGBT careers event ñ OUT in the City ñ on Thursday 4 November. Undergraduates from across Europe will attend the event, organised by graduate careers publishers GTI on behalf of nine leading investment banks. Interested students from any degree discipline studying at a UK, Irish or European university can apply by visiting www.chancesevents.com/outinthecity

Held in Canary Wharf, London, the evening reception is sponsored by nine leading investment banks (Citigroup, Credit Suisse First Boston, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley and UBS). It is also supported by Stonewall, the lesbian and gay rights organisation.

Ben Summerskill, Chief Executive of Stonewall, welcomes the initiative: ìWe are delighted to see the investment banking sector actively challenging the perception that the City is not open to LGB people. Talented, bright and hard-working people deserve success in rewarding careers, whatever their sexuality.î

OUT in the City aims to widen the appeal of a career in the City to a more diverse audience and show that investment banking is open to all talented people, whatever their sexual orientation. After an introduction by Stonewall and senior representatives from the sponsoring banks, a panel of LGBT representatives from the banks will talk about their experiences and what a career in investment banking has to offer. This will be followed by a question and answer session for the students. The evening will end with the opportunity to network with the bank representatives and each other over drinks.

Mark Blythe, Joint Managing Director of GTI, adds: ìWe want to change the image of investment banking among under-represented groups. OUT in the City shows that top banks are embracing diversity and welcoming people who may not have previously considered a City career. It is designed to reach out to LGBT students who are currently missing out on a fantastic career opportunity.î

Last year, the sponsoring banks approached GTI to organise the inaugural event, a first in graduate careers, following its successful track record in running similar initiatives to help change the image of investment banking among other under-represented groups.

Simon Menneer, Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of European Investment Banking at Credit Suisse First Boston, says of last yearís event: ìI was really impressed by the quality and scale of the event. The event was an unqualified success and we made an offer directly as a result of it. As a senior champion of CSFB’s Open Network, which supports our LGBT employees in the workplace, I am fully supportive of doing more events of this kind.î

Manny Roman, Managing Director and Co-Head of Global Securities Services at Goldman Sachs, comments: ìWe are looking for the best talent, and we consider candidates by their qualities and qualifications, not their sexual orientation. With new legislation banning discrimination in the workplace on the grounds of sexual orientation, the initiative is particularly timely.î

Don Jones, Co-Chair of Citigroup Pride adds: ìCitigroup is proud to be a sponsor of OUT in the City. It provides us with a unique opportunity as LGBT employees and diversity recruiters to discuss with students the real issues of being out in the financial world. We know that to attract the best and brightest we need an environment where all employees are given the same opportunities to succeed. A lot of progress has been made, but there’s still much to be done. Hearing the studentsí perspective and listening to their suggestions will help us get there much faster.î
Ian Chivers, CAO Merrill Lynch, EMEA Region says: ìWe are proud to be part of OUT in the City. Merrill Lynch is committed to promoting a corporate environment where there is mutual respect and equal opportunity for all individuals, irrespective of their diversity background or sexual orientation.î

OUT in the City is open to LGBT undergraduates from any degree discipline studying at university in the UK, Ireland or Europe. To apply, visit www.chancesevents.com. Another GTI event, Capital Chances ñ disabled students in investment banking, will take place on 8 ñ 9 December.