BCR supports young talents

Since the beginning of this year, BCR has launched a new initiative to support young talents. This innovative project highlights BCR’s commitment to drawing attention to emerging professionals and facilitating their entry into the receivables finance industry.

Industry Challenges in Attracting Young Talents
Numerous reports emphasize the difficulties banks and commercial finance providers face in recruiting young professionals. Key findings include:

• Skills Shortages in Financial Services: A PwC survey revealed that 70 per cent of financial services CEOs view limited skills availability as a threat to growth. However, only 28 per cent are actively working to address this gap, indicating a recognition of the issue but a lack of widespread action.
PwC Report

• Global Youth Skills Crisis: According to UNICEF, nearly three-quarters of young people (aged 15–24) in 92 countries lack the skills needed for employment. This broader gap may contribute to the low entry of young professionals into the financial services sector.
UNICEF Report

• Experience Gap in Hiring: Deloitte research shows that 66 per cent of managers believe new hires are not fully prepared for their roles, largely due to a lack of experience. Entry-level positions increasingly require two to five years of experience, creating barriers for young professionals.
Deloitte Insights

BCR’s Initiatives to Bridge the Gap
In response to these challenges, BCR has proactively introduced a series of initiatives designed to support young professionals:

• Elevating Young Talent & Leadership: BCR Conferences now include panels focused on young professionals and the next generation of leaders.

• Spotlighting Transformational Leaders: Industry figures like June Gledhill (NatWest) have shared insights on leadership and talent development at BCR Events.

• HR & Training Strategies: Through BCR Learning and BCR Events, the company promotes progressive HR policies and training to support talent acquisition and retention.

• Student Engagement & Career Development: BCR was the first event organiser to welcome student attendees. For example, Faidra Megkou, after attending a BCR event, has since expanded her ESG knowledge, blending finance and emerging technologies.

• Young Leaders on Stage: Professionals like Martin Isik-Rozwadowski have had their first speaking engagements at BCR Events, such as the UKIF25 conference.

• Accessible Participation: A 50 per cent discount for attendees under 30 has been introduced to encourage broader participation from younger professionals.

• Sales Training for the AI Era: Free sales training is being offered this year, focusing on AI and emerging technologies, equipping junior staff with cutting-edge industry insights.

• Diversity & Inclusion Milestones: BCR’s RFIX25 will feature Fortune Gweru as the first woman to chair a commercial finance industry conference. A more diverse speaker lineup is being actively promoted.

• Modernising Events: BCR is welcoming young, tech-savvy team members and revamping its event formats to include interactive debates, roundtables, and future-focused discussions.

Stay connected to discover our latest initiatives and be an active part of the BCR community, now celebrating 25 years.

Register for RFIX25 here and join us in driving innovation and shaping the future of commercial finance.