- NatWest welcomed London sixth formers to its London offices for a week of hands-on learning and career insight.
- Students met senior leaders, tackled real business challenges and developed valuable workplace skills.
- The initiative reflects NatWest's commitment to helping young people build confidence and prepare for the future.
Twenty sixth form students took to NatWest’s offices this summer, for a week of hands-on learning and career insight.
The programme, which took place across NatWest's offices at 250 Bishopsgate and The Strand in August, brought together students from Swanlea School in Whitechapel, Queens Park Community School and colleagues' families for an immersive introduction to the world of banking.
Created and delivered by colleagues from NatWest's Real Estate Finance business and volunteers from across the bank, the initiative aimed to give young people opportunities to learn, grow and explore career paths they may not otherwise have access to.
The programme forms part of NatWest's broader commitment to helping young people develop the confidence, skills and aspirations they need to succeed. Last week, the bank also launched its flagship Youth Offer, which will help connect thousands of young people across the country to the experience, skills and opportunities to help build their careers.
The offer compliments existing initiatives such as NatWest Thrive, the bank provides free financial education and future skills resources for young people from the age of five onwards, helping them build confidence with money, develop life skills and prepare for the future.
Throughout the week, students took part in more than 27 interactive learning sessions covering banking, lending, cybersecurity, financial crime, data, innovation and sustainability. They also worked on a week-long business case study, visited the NatWest Markets trading floor, toured Coutts and Drummonds, and learnt more about apprenticeships and alternative routes into financial services.
A highlight for many students was a session with NatWest Group Chief Financial Officer Katie Murray, who shared insights into her career journey and answered questions about leadership, resilience and opportunities in the financial sector.
Students also participated in networking events with senior colleagues, collaborative team projects and practical challenges designed to strengthen their communication, teamwork, problem-solving and presentation skills.
The programme built on NatWest's ongoing partnership with Swanlea School through its "Pathways to Success" initiative, which supports students from backgrounds that are traditionally underrepresented in professional careers.
Many students were from low eco-sociological background with many coming from families with limited exposure to careers in financial services.
Charlie Foster, Head of Real Estate Finance at NatWest, said:
"At NatWest, we're passionate about helping young people develop the skills, confidence and ambition they need to succeed. Programmes like this give students the chance to see what's possible, meet people from different backgrounds and gain real-world experience that can help shape their future.
"I'm incredibly proud of the colleagues who volunteered their time to make the week such a success. By opening our doors and sharing their knowledge, they're helping young people broaden their horizons, build confidence and take their next steps towards rewarding careers."
Kabi Miah, Executive Headteacher - Weavers’ Federation, said:
“We are immensely grateful to NatWest for providing our students at Swanlea with the opportunity to participate in their summer work experience programme.
“Initiatives like this allow our young people to aspire to careers and institutions that they may not have otherwise thought possible. The team at NatWest made our young people feel welcome and valued, leaving them all energised and inspired to pursue a career in the financial sector.”
Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, with students praising the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of the banking sector.
One student said:
"The meeting with Katie Murray was very insightful and enjoyable. Learning about her path and the setbacks she faced during her career was really interesting."
Another commented:
“The trading game helped me understand how quickly markets change and how traders make decisions.”
Students also highlighted the visit to Coutts, opportunities to meet colleagues from across the bank, and pitching business ideas as some of the most valuable parts of the week.
The initiative was organised by a team of volunteers from across NatWest, whose dedication helped create a memorable and impactful experience for students.
Notes to editors
- The work experience programme took place from 3-7 August 2026.
- Twenty sixth form students participated, including students from Swanlea School, Queen's Park Community School and colleagues' families.
- Students took part in approximately 27 learning sessions covering banking, risk, cybersecurity, financial crime, innovation, data and sustainability.
