Catalyst Education Programme
What is the Catalyst Education Programme?
The Catalyst Education Programme exists to ensure that talent, ambition and potential—not background—determine a young person’s future. While more young people are entering professional careers than ever before, significant barriers remain for those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
Within the UK financial services industry, representation at senior levels continues to lag behind, while many young people lack the financial knowledge, confidence, professional networks and visible role models needed to access careers they are capable of succeeding in. Catalyst was created to change this.
Through a unique combination of financial education, industry insight, professional qualifications and employer engagement, we equip talented 16–18-year-olds from underserved communities with the knowledge, skills, confidence and connections to thrive in the financial services industry. By bringing together students, leading employers and industry professionals, Catalyst is building a more diverse, inclusive and future-ready generation of talent for the UK’s financial services sector.
Application Deadline: Friday 6th November 2026
Programme at a glance
1 years
Programme length, run across Years 12 and 13.
3 elements
Knowledge, understanding and skills development.
Student recruitment via applications and interviews
September to November each year. Launch event: November.
CISI LV2
Recognised professional qualification.
London & SE
State schools and colleges.
Who is the Programme For?
The Catalyst Education Programme is designed for ambitious young people aged 16–18 who have the talent and determination to succeed but may not have had the same opportunities, networks or industry exposure as their peers.
We work with students from a wide range of backgrounds, with a particular focus on those who are underrepresented within the financial services industry. This includes young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds, those attending state schools and colleges, students eligible for free school meals, and those who may be the first in their family to pursue a professional career.
Catalyst is not about previous knowledge of finance. It is about recognising potential.
Whether a student dreams of becoming an investment analyst, portfolio manager, trader, financial adviser, economist, data scientist, marketer, software engineer or simply wants to explore the opportunities available within financial services, the programme provides the knowledge, experience and confidence to take that next step.
Our mission is simple: to ensure that every talented young person, regardless of background, has the opportunity to discover, prepare for and succeed in a career within the UK’s financial services industry.
What the programme includes
Element one: knowledge
Study online towards the CISI Level 2 Award in Fundamentals of Financial Services, covering ethics, saving and borrowing, banking, equities, bonds, derivatives, markets and other areas of financial services. Assessed via a one-hour computer-based exam sat in the summer.
Element two: understanding
Element three: skills development
Insight days: PGIM inspire
Who it's for
Embrace your potential as a future investment leader. Here’s how the Pathway Programme can benefit participants and their firms.
- A strong understanding of investment and financial markets.
- A recognised industry qualification.
- Professional and employability skills.
- Direct access to leading investment firms and industry professionals.
- A network of peers, mentors and future employers.
- The confidence to pursue ambitious career goals.
- Make a difference to the career prospects of young people who need it most.
- Develop and nurture a diverse pool of potential young talent.
- Create social impact (a core element of ESG).
- Meet several of the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Testimonials
Our participating firms
Safeguarding and Child Protection
The Catalyst Education Programme is committed to safeguarding and child protection. The CEP Safeguarding and Child Protection Statement and the CEP Safeguarding and Child Protection Policies and Procedures are available on request.
Please contact Matthew Bolton, Catalyst Education Programme Manager, for safeguarding documents or any other queries.
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