Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO) London has announced a three-year partnership with Barclays to help more than 400 graduates from Black and ethnically diverse communities across the UK, with a focus on tackling socio-economic inequality, to secure meaningful jobs.

With more than twenty years' experience in working with and preparing young people for career success, diversity-focused charity SEO London recognises that graduates from underrepresented backgrounds are still missing out on opportunities to access rewarding employment.

Through its newly launched Beyond Barriers programme, funded by Barclays, SEO London hopes to level the playing field for those graduates who have not yet secured suitable full-time employment since finishing university.

The six-month programme aims to provide participants with personalised support to boost their confidence, help them think creatively about their career and improve their employability skills. The first cohort of sixty graduates joined the programme earlier this month, and will have access to tailored employability boot camps, online career support, including Barclays LifeSkills resources, and a mentor. They will also receive regular support from SEO London to help them secure a suitable and fulfilling job in the role and industry of their choice. Applications will open twice a year for new cohorts, in January and May.

Kingsley Onah, Director, Equities, Barclays, who has been an SEO London alumnus since 2006, praised the influence SEO London had on his career: "The support given to me by SEO London was fantastic, particularly from an educational, mentoring and network building perspective. Just as their internship kick-started my career, I'm delighted to see that a new generation of graduates will benefit from this partnership with Barclays".

The partnership signifies a new milestone for Barclays and SEO London, whose relationship spans over fifteen years and enables Barclays to deliver the community aspects of their Race at Work action plan, which includes a focus on improving access to career and development opportunities for Black and ethnically diverse people.

"As part of our Race at Work ambitions, attracting and retaining diverse talent is a top priority", said Azura Mason, Global Head of Race at Work, Barclays. "The Beyond Barriers programme will not only help us to drive this progress for ourselves, but it will also provide other organisations with access to new talent pools and help drive social change".

Andrew Fairbairn, SEO London founder and CEO, was equally upbeat: "SEO London's new Beyond Barriers programme is an important extension of the charity's platform, serving young people from underserved communities across the UK. In partnership with Barclays, SEO London has created a new opportunity set to maximise the employability of recent graduates who are not yet employed or are under-employed relative to their capabilities".