For the second consecutive year, BNP Paribas and its Community and Charity Programme,
will support Rise Up, a pilot programme designed to help students at risk of dropping out of the education system.

Rise Up is a project developed by the Westminster Education Business Partnership (EBP).  EBP helps bring business employers and schools together so as to inspire young people and promote educational achievement through volunteering programmes that support schools in the local area.  BNP Paribas has been part of this partnership for several years now.

This year, several employees at BNP Paribas will volunteer to work as mentors or ‘business coaches’ for five students aged 14 to 16 years.  The goal is to help them develop their communication skills and to obtain a BTEC Level 2 Media Production qualification.

The role of ‘business coach’ will imply for BNP Paribas employees to impart the skills gained through their working life.  This task will involve showing students how to:

•    plan and organise tasks
•    write a delivery plan
•    generate ideas
•    solve problems
•    set targets
•    work to tight deadlines

And, besides motivating and guiding young people through this role, the program also aims to help employees to develop coaching skills that can be useful for their own professional lives.

To accomplish this project, all participating employees will be asked to meet once a week for a total of 8 weeks, starting on 1st February 2012.