West Brom Building Society welcomed guests from its Charity of the Year, Jericho, to its head office for a day of practical workshops, with colleagues volunteering their professional expertise to help build confidence, develop employability skills and provide insight into careers in financial services.

The event, which took place this month, forms part of the building society’s ongoing partnership with Birmingham-based charity Jericho, which supports people facing significant barriers to employment through tailored training, work opportunities and long-term support.

Throughout the day, around nine people took part in a series of interactive sessions led by colleagues from the West Brom, including career discovery, CV writing, interview skills, digital skills for work and financial education. The day concluded with a careers talk from the West Brom’s Chief Customer Officer, who shared insights into his own career journey and the opportunities available within financial services.

The event included people supported through Jericho’s employment and recovery programmes, including the Equiano Project, which helps survivors of modern slavery rebuild their lives through employment-focused recovery, education and personalised support.

The workshops are designed to equip those attending with practical skills, increase confidence and provide a better understanding of the workplace, helping them take positive steps towards future employment.

Georgia d’Esterre, Head of Marketing at West Brom Building Society, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome guests from Jericho to our head office and share practical skills that we hope will help those attending on their employment journey. The enthusiasm and curiosity shown throughout the day was really inspiring. I’m very proud of our colleagues who volunteered their time and expertise to make the event such a success.”

Nicole Newman, Equiano Project Manager, at Jericho, said: “Experiences like this are incredibly valuable because they give people the opportunity to step inside a professional workplace, meet new people and develop practical skills that can support them on their journey into employment. We’re grateful to everyone at the West Brom for giving their time and expertise. Our partnership is helping people build their confidence and take positive steps towards achieving their goals.”

West Brom Building Society selected Jericho as its Charity of the Year to support the charity’s work helping people overcome barriers to employment and build brighter futures.