Alumni engagement and philanthropy



QUEEN'S AND LLOYDS BANKING GROUP LAUNCH SCHOLARS PROGRAMME 

08 February 2017

Lloyds Banking Group, which operates primarily as the Halifax in Northern Ireland, has announced a new partnership with Queen’s University offering 15 talented undergraduates financial support, paid internships, professional mentoring and a wealth of opportunity to develop their employability skills, as part of the Group’s unique social mobility programme.

Already operating in several other prestigious UK universities including UCL, Bath and Edinburgh, Queen’s is the ninth member of the programme. For the first time, students from low income households in Northern Ireland will be eligible to become Lloyds Scholars, shaping them into socially conscious and successful graduates.

Commenting on the initiative Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor David Jones said: “We are very pleased to be joining the Lloyds Scholars programme from 2017. We are passionate about the futures of our students and the programme is a fantastic opportunity, as it not only offers them financial support with living costs and study materials, but also the chance to gain work experience and access to a mentor alongside their studies.

“Queen’s is committed to providing opportunities for our students to engage in activities that make a positive impact on our local communities and help develop their employability skills.”

Participants will each receive bursaries of £1,000 per year, performance related cash awards for good grades, up to two paid internships with Lloyds Banking Group (salary pro-rata £18,000), along with access to mentoring and to the development of a support network with senior employees of the Group.

In addition to the significant benefits provided by the Lloyds scholarship, those selected will also be able to attend a range of workshops and seminars which develop employability skills.

And it is not just the Lloyds Scholars who will benefit from the partnership, all students on the programme will complete at least 100 hours of volunteering in their local area alongside their studies – all of which helps strengthen their employability skills and makes a valuable difference within their communities.

Since the programme’s inception in 2011, Lloyds Scholars have contributed around £1.2m of volunteering time to charities and groups, with Scholars starting up their own charitable enterprises for vulnerable people within their community.

The scholarship programme plays an invaluable role in supporting the retention, achievement and effective progression into graduate employment of talented university students from low income backgrounds.

To date, 600 Scholars have participated in the programme, including 160 who have graduated and joined the Scholars Alumni Network. Over 630 internships have been completed since 2011, with each Scholar undertaking at least one of the two internships offered to them as part of the scheme. 

Set up to help tackle disadvantage and boost social mobility by increasing opportunity and raising aspiration, by 2020 the initiative will have supported 1,185 Lloyds Scholars as part of its ambition to help Britain and Northern Ireland prosper, through its investment in skills and employability.

Jim McCooe, Lloyds Banking Group regional ambassador for Northern Ireland said: “I am extremely proud that Queen’s University Belfast will become the first Northern Ireland University partnering the Lloyds Scholars programme from 2017 onwards.

“Lloyds Scholars continues to be a key part in our commitment to helping Northern Ireland prosper, offering young people financial support with higher education and the chance to secure their dream job. The Scholars from the programme always impress with their enthusiasm, intelligence and positivity – not only to their studies but also to the community projects they have volunteered and made a big difference to.

“I know that both the students and the Belfast community are really going to benefit from the partnership.”

Applications to the Lloyds Scholars programme for Queen’s undergraduates open on 03 May 2017. To find out more and register interest, visit www.lloyds-scholars.com.

Media inquiries to Suzanne Lagan, Communications Officer at Queen’s University on +44 (0)28 9097 5292.

 

Back to Main News

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

           

Top of Page