Zoe proves she’s a top Scholar

ZOE Griffin, a student from Holmfirth, is amongst 102 students to celebrate graduating from the prestigious Lloyds Scholars programme this year.

The graduation ceremony in central London was attended by Lloyds Banking Group’s chief of staff, Janet Pope.

The programme, which started in 2011, offers talented undergraduates at its nine partner universities financial support, paid internships, professional mentoring and opportunities to develop their employability skills.

In return, all scholars commit to at least 100 hours of skills-based volunteering in their communities each academic year.

Zoe studied Fine Arts at the University of Edinburgh whilst being supported by the award-winning social mobility programme from Lloyds Banking Group.

The award-winning programme is having a positive impact on the employability of students from lower income households and boosting social mobility across the UK.

Through the opportunities available on the programme, scholars have been able to harness vital employability skills including time management, leadership and entrepreneurial business skills which not only make them attractive to employers, but also help to differentiate them from other candidates in the job market.

Janet Pope, chief of staff and group director, corporate affairs at Lloyds Banking Group, said: “I am proud to congratulate Zoe for graduating.

“Investing in education and skills is central to our wider ambition to help Britain prosper.

“We know that attainment at school and the acquisition of work skills are key drivers of social mobility and prosperity in later life.

“Ensuring that young people do well in their education and are prepared for work does not just benefit them as individuals, it also benefits the communities in which they live and the businesses that rely on recruiting local talent.

“I am very proud of the Lloyds Scholars achievements and wish them well in their future career.”