PPF champions underrepresented talent during National Inclusion Week

Chief People Officer Katherine Easter at the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) has highlighted during National Inclusion Week the “enormous value” in supporting underrepresented talent kickstart their careers in the pensions industry. 

The PPF recruited three interns for the six-week placements after partnering with the 10,000 Interns Foundation, which aims to champion underrepresented talent and promote equity of opportunity. 

Katherine Easter, Chief People Officer at the PPF, said: “We’re so grateful to our three interns for all their hard work during their summer internships, and we hope this has provided a solid foundation as they embark on their new careers. Supporting people from underrepresented groups brings enormous value to the sector by increasing diversity of thought and welcoming new talent into the industry. We will continue to provide these development opportunities which help change our organisation for the better.”

Isaac Ajala, who interned at the PPF, said: “I really enjoyed my time in the Legal team at the PPF. Other than gaining an overview of Pensions as a legal practice area, I have been performing legal research, produced a summary of a government announcement, and reviewed the PPF’s governance structure.”

The internships also provided opportunities for PPF employees to develop their line management skills and build collaboration across the business. As part of its Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, the PPF set itself goals to recruit more people from underrepresented groups at junior levels, nurture talent and provide consistent development opportunities. 

Stephanie Williamson, Interim Managing Counsel at the PPF, said: “In addition to being a hugely rewarding experience to support new legal talent, the PPF’s participation in the 10,000 Interns program was also valuable for my own career growth and experience. It presented many opportunities for me to develop my people and team management skills, as well as building new collaborative relationships and sharing learnings with other industry leaders.”

The PPF also works with Investment 20/20, an initiative to help talented young people gain access to the investment industry through apprenticeships, and supports the Diversity Project which champions a more inclusive culture in the savings and investment sector.