Over 1,700 UBS employees have been involved in the Bridge Academy, where UBS employees work with the Academy to support and inspire students, volunteering their time and skills in areas such as governance, staff development, fundraising and student literacy and numeracy.

Last year alone 267 volunteers took part in 21 different projects giving a total of 1,620 hours, and in the first ten months of 2011, over 400 volunteers have contributed over 3,000 hours.

Throughout the partnership, UBS has encouraged and supported employees to be involved in the project by offering a two day volunteering allowance every year, setting up a UBS Matched Giving scheme to incentivise donations and launching an employee award scheme to recognise outstanding contributions.

Some of the partnership’s key projects include:

80 UBS volunteers work weekly with 80 students to improve core literacy and numeracy skills by reinforcing practical learning and motivating students

UBS and the Bridge developed a new programme for Year 10 to give an introduction to the world of work, a focus on relevant skills and the motivation to think positively about the working world. Benefits include careers assemblies run in Question Time format with UBS and other volunteers, work experience with over 60 UBS volunteers and at UBS partner charities

A Virtual Trading project with 54 top Year 10 maths students working in class with Equities traders

Risky Business workshops put together by UBS Risk Control on the concept of risk

UBS Pride Network engaged Stonewall to work with 180 Year 7 students on homophobic bullying, supported by eight UBS volunteers

UBS funding Queen Mary, University of London (QMUL) to support the Academy’s maths specialism with 15 undergraduates working with 43 students on curriculum topics and acting as a drop-in revision session for year 10. They also set up an annual Hackney Maths Challenge to inspire success in maths and encourage students to study maths at university

The award was presented by Children’s Minister Sarah Teather, during a visit to the Academy.

Congratulating UBS and the Bridge Academy on the award, the Prime Minister said: “The Bridge Academy is a brilliant example of business working with their local community to make a difference and create something really special for their area.

“The innovative ideas, enthusiasm and skills of the UBS volunteers have had a clear impact on the Academy, inspiring students and helping them reach their potential.

“Congratulations to UBS, Bridge Academy and all involved in this hugely successful partnership. They have created an excellent school which will leave a lasting legacy for Hackney.”

Commenting on the partnership, Stephen Foster, principal at the Bridge Academy, said: “Every day we see the benefits to students and staff of this exceptional partnership with UBS. Students’ lives are being changed because of it."

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