Brightest Young Minds (BYM) Summit now on

According to Stephen van Coller, Barclays Africa CEO for Corporate and Investment Banking, “This year the summit is themed ‘Shaping the future now’ and will accommodate 100 of Africa’s most innovative leaders to come together with the nation’s decision makers and craft solutions to developmental challenges outlined in the National Development Plan. Our partnership with BYM demonstrates our ongoing commitment to innovation and shared growth across the continent.”

Education and training is a critical investment for the bank. Barclays Africa has put aside R1.4bn for education and skills training across the continent over the next three years. The announcement of the investment, to facilitate skills development and access to quality education, was made on 1 March 2016, at the presentation of the group’s annual results.

Over the next three years, the Barclays Africa investment will be used for:

• ReadytoWork: which will offer skills training to 250 000 young people, in 2016
  
• Scholarships: which will support an estimated 250 disadvantaged students, in 2016
  
• Technical Vocational Education and Training colleges: to support their administration and offer students workplace exposure
  
• University support: for academic research and innovation
  
• Consumer Education: to increase financial literacy, and awareness about the need for insurance

“The BYM Summit is just one of many initiatives that Barclays Africa supports to foster shared growth. We are committed to our shared growth strategy which allows for a positive impact on society while delivering shareholder value.”

The final phase of the summit sets BYM apart. Delegates work in teams to design start-up like solutions to social, economic and/or cultural challenges in just 24 hours. Their problem-shattering ideas will be presented to a panel with the possibility of being awarded funding and implementation support.