Welcome to our Autumn Newsletter!

The last few months have been a period of transition as we said farewell to our 2019-2021 Financial Services and inaugural Fast Track Data/AI Graduates and welcomed the newest group of recruits for the next two-year financial services Programme.

We hosted a fantastic evening of celebration at Chapel 1877 in Cardiff and invited both the graduates leaving the programme and our new starters as well as the WCCF Team.

For many, it was the first-time meeting in person, so it felt like a truly special occasion marking the successful completion of both programmes and an opportunity to welcome our next group of graduates into the fold.

The start of September saw the launch of the Financial Services Programme 2021-2023. We were finally able to host an in-person event and the atmosphere was lively. You can read more about the launch in the newsletter.

We were also thrilled to be crowned winners of the Best Academic Programme at the FinTech Awards Wales! It was a fantastic evening and a real achievement for everyone involved with the WCCF and Graduate Programme Wales, including University of South Wales, all our employers and the graduates themselves!

The recruitment campaign for the next Fast Track Data/AI Programme is well underway. We’re launching the assessment centres in the next week. We’ve been impressed with the calibre and diversity of applicants so are looking forward to seeing the talent shine through during the next phase of the process.

I’d like to say a big welcome to our new Finance Graduates as this is the first of many newsletters that will be shared with you. We’ve included some tips and guides to help you get the most from your placements as well as lots of positive news stories and case studies to be inspired by.

I’d also like to wish our Talent Development Manager Clare Allen all the best as she embarks on a new journey with Cardiff Metropolitan University and thank her for all of her hard work over the last two and half years.

We hope you enjoy the newsletter.

Rowena Morgan, Programme Manager