Welcome to our Summer Newsletter!

It’s been a busy period for our Graduates and the Graduate Programme Team!

As we reach the end of the Financial Services & Data Fast-Track Programme, we have to commend the graduates for their resilience and sheer hard work for completing the programmes virtually remotely. Despite the challenges, we are so proud that the majority have secured a job within the consortium and on course to achieve their Masters and Post Graduate qualification.

We are looking forward to celebrating their success at our end of Programme bash in September!

We are thrilled to announce a new partnership with the University of Gloucestershire who will deliver an applied MSc for our forthcoming financial services programme. UOG impressed us with their innovative approach to delivery and understanding of the current and future skills needed by the industry. We’ve listened to our employers and evolved the curriculum to include 3 new modules in Data, Business Transformation and Fintech and introduced Graduate Coaches – thanks to all 35 coaches from across the consortium who have kindly signed up to support our new cohort. Read more about this in the Spotlight on MSc section of the newsletter.

Following a successful recruitment campaign, we have identified 37 new superstars from over 400 applicants, who will be starting their journey with us in September, thus further building a talent pool in financial services skills in the region. Welcome to our new cohort and thanks to all our employer assessors who gave their time to participate in the virtual assessment centres and of course, the University of Gloucestershire for hosting the sessions.

A huge congratulations to FS Graduate Faye Cochlin who has been nominated for Rising Star of the Year at the Finance Awards Wales. You can read the full story in the newsletter. Good luck Faye!

More great news –  we have been shortlisted as a finalist for Best Academic Programme in the FinTech Awards Wales. A fantastic achievement for the team, University of South Wales, employers and graduates!

Our work continues as we embark upon our next recruitment campaign for our second Data-AI Fast-Track Programme, starting in January. This programme has been a real success story in accelerating the development of data-ai professionals! Applications will open in August for STEM graduates so do follow Graduate Programme Wales on LinkedIn for updates.

As always, thanks to everyone who has contributed to this edition of the newsletter, it’s packed with positive news stories and case studies so read on and enjoy!

Rowena Morgan
Programme Manager