The Black Mortgage Professionals and Allies Network (BMPAN) has called on the financial services industry to work together to create stronger early-career pathways for underrepresented young people.
At a recent roundtable hosted in Canary Wharf, a central focus of the discussion was how the industry can better reach talented young people from underrepresented backgrounds who may not traditionally see financial services as an accessible or achievable career path.
BMPAN will act as a facilitator, helping employers, providers and community organisations to collaborate more effectively to widen access to the sector.
Hosted by BMPAN co-founders Atlyn Forde and Aleka Gutzmore, the afternoon opened with testimonies from young people who have finished or are currently progressing through apprenticeships and early career roles. Their varied accounts aimed to ground the discussion in real experience and reinforce the need for clear pathways and sustained support.
Tracy Jordan, COO and board member at Vantage Point Global, outlined its role as a bridge between business and youth. Working in partnership with employers, the company trains and mentors candidates through the early months of a job, with the aim of helping to strengthen retention and long-term professional success.
Paul Allen from Simply Academy, a financial services training provider, set out the range of training provision available to businesses, demonstrating how structured training programmes can be delivered to create clear entry points into the industry.
The open discussion that followed revealed a series of key themes, including the need for structured, visible pathways into mortgage and financial services, the critical role of line managers in retention and progression, the importance of widening access beyond traditional networks, and the commercial and sustainability case for investing in early talent.
Participants agreed that stronger collaboration between employers, apprenticeship providers and early career specialists is essential if the sector is to build a resilient and diverse talent pipeline.
BMPAN has committed to leading the next phase of work, including building a practical framework to strengthen industry connections, track engagement and support measurable progress.
Planned actions include convening follow-up discussions with organisations ready to introduce or expand apprenticeship and internship programmes, connecting employers with trusted training and apprenticeship partners, encouraging cross-industry collaboration and shared learning, and identifying measurable actions and monitoring progress.
Atlyn Forde, co-founder of BMPAN, said: "One of the strongest messages from the roundtable was that there is incredible potential among young people who simply need clearer pathways and access into the industry. Many talented young people from underrepresented backgrounds do not grow up seeing financial services as a career option, not because they lack ambition or ability, but because they lack visibility of the opportunities available.
"Through BMPAN we are committed to changing that. By bringing employers, training providers and young people into the same conversation, we can help build practical pathways that enable the next generation of talent to enter, progress and thrive in financial services."
BMPAN co-founder, Aleka Gutzmore, added: "The response to the Early Career Pathways Roundtable was incredibly encouraging. I’m proud that BMPAN is at the forefront of this conversation, bringing together employers, training providers and young people to move from intent to action and strengthen access to financial services for the next generation."
Nicola Goldie, head of strategic partnerships & growth at Aldermore and deputy chair at IMLA, said: "The energy and openness in the room this afternoon made it clear that early career support must now move from good intentions to co-ordinated action. What came through strongly was the shared desire for a more joined-up industry approach - clearer pathways, better visibility for young people, and tangible frameworks that support progression.
"As a sector, we have an opportunity to shape something meaningful here. I’m committed to taking these learnings back into Working in Mortgages, IMLA and our wider networks so we can build practical solutions that strengthen our talent pipelines and widen access across financial services."
Young attendees at the BMPAN event from the entrepreneurial association, KURA, Youth with ambition, also shared their thoughts. Vheneka C, a year 12 student, said: "Speaking with people from different areas highlighted how varied and impactful the industry is, especially within fields like risk and fraud. It helped me see finance as a space where I could keep learning, solve problems, and make a meaningful contribution."
