Black Professionals Resource Group

The Black Professionals Resource Group (BPRG) is an open community that aims to empower all colleagues with key skills and experiences that will help them progress their careers, whilst creating opportunities to give back by encouraging the development of others, both within Barclays and externally within our communities.

The BPRG regularly run training and mentoring sessions for members, schools and businesses alike. Additionally, BPRG aims to provide fresh and unique perspectives to enhance understanding and appreciation among all employees regarding the value of diversity as it relates to Black professionals.

Our Strategy

As part of the new global Employee Resource Group strategy, the key focus for our ERG is to champion the benefits of diversity at Barclays, whilst sharing the lived experiences and nuances of our diverse colleagues at Barclays. As we sharpen the focus on Diversity at Barclays, the ERG strategy will focus on four main pillars (Attract, Retain, Develop and Engage).

Attract

Internal and external engagement – Providing greater support to the Barclays D&I recruitment to identify and engage a diverse pool of candidates:

• Early Careers
• African Caribbean Society & University Engagement/ Talks/Insight evenings
• Develop Relationships with external organizations Regionally (SEO London, Rare Recruitment, UpReach & Social Mobility Foundation)
• Reveling Industry to Secondary Education (RISE) Programme – Mentoring for Year 10-13 Students
• Experienced hires
• Develop Relationships with external organizations Regionall
• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Work closely with HR, RAW and D&I councils to produce tangible deliverables

Retain

Building a great & diverse place to work​​​​​​​​​​​​​​:
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• Become the ‘Go To’ Resource Group for black colleagues and allies
• Work with D&I councils to develop Active Listening groups to ensure continuous feedback
• Support RAW to develop Internal Black Talent Pool and share open roles
• Work with Business Units to sign up to Sponsorship Pledge from all Directors upwards across all the business areas
• Work closely with HR, RAW and D&I councils to produce tangible deliverables 

Develop

Developing colleagues with multiple dimensions of difference – Foster a diverse and inclusive environment to ensure members reach their career goals while contributing to Barclays’ D&I objectives:

• Deliver a series of events which focuses on member development (showing up as at their best, how to own your careers etc.)
• Leverage and showcase internal Learning Labs and existing materials
• Provide regular Communication and signposting
• Develop Black ERG Introduction Pack
• Provide Mentorship and sponsorship opportunities (Reverse and Traditional Mentoring)

Engage

Connect with business leads to explore collaboration opportunities:
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• Develop and drive events to foster greater engagement for businesses and allies (BHM, Socials & Charities/ Communities) 
• Connect with businesses and work more closely with clients where possible
• Develop an Executive team of senior leaders across BI, BX, BUK
• MD Allyship to help drive change within Middle Line Management