Standard Chartered Aspires Towards its Goal of Being an Incubator of Local Talent

12 Local Management Trainees Graduates

12 April 2009, Manama – Twelve local Management Trainees have graduated from the Standard Chartered Bank's Local Management Trainee Programme in Bahrain. Standard Chartered Bank has been in partnership with Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF) to develop local talent since October 2007, when the program was first launched.

The Management Trainee Programme was designed as part of BIBF and Standard Chartered Bank's Initiative to train and develop recently graduated students for a career in banking. The Local Management Trainee Programme is in line with the Bank's commitment to cultivate local talent in Bahrain.

Jonathan Morris, Chief Executive Officer Standard Chartered Bank Bahrain said:

"We are delighted at the success of Standard Chartered's Local Management Trainee Programme with BIBF in Bahrain. This initiative provides a unique opportunity for the best local graduates who aspire to build a long term career in the banking and financial sector to join Standard Chartered on a structured development programme. We are committed to deepening our pool of local talent in Bahrain and with a constant flow of graduates coming into the Bank, Standard Chartered Bank will be able to build and sustain a strong talent pipeline and simultaneously support the Government's ambition of transforming Bahrain into a knowledge-based economy."

Starting in 2007, graduate students from various disciplines who are interested in a career in banking and finance have had the opportunity to apply for a place in Standard Chartered Bank's Local Management Trainee Programme. The programme has proved to be hugely popular with students and the Bank received an overwhelming number of applicants for the places available.

"We aim to be the world's best international bank by being The Right Partner for our customers. To achieve our goal, we need to attract highly talented people to work for us and to give them outstanding opportunities to develop. The Standard Chartered Management Trainee Programme which we offer local graduate recruits is one of the most comprehensive and international in Bahrain. It celebrates open minds, original thinking, diversity and ambition – the key attributes which we seek in our future leaders," added Jonathan.

Standard Chartered's Management Trainee Programme was created to develop more local leaders and to teach aspiring bankers the fundamental principles of banking. Every Management Trainee undergoes a year of classroom and on-the-job training before graduating from the programme.

The graduates who recently successfully completed the Local Management Trainee Programme were recognised and presented with Certificates. The Bank is in the process of completing the recruitment process for its 2009 Management Trainee Programme.

"In leading the way to be the Employer of Choice for the industry, we are committed to creating a dynamic and engaged environment in which people can grow, individuals can make a difference and leaders to contribute to the socio-economic development of the country. We want to continue to attract and develop talented people, provide them with the right opportunity to build their skills and enable them to succeed across our footprint. This is our priority, here in Bahrain and around our network – to build a multi-talented, diverse workforce and performance-driven leadership," Jonathan concluded.

Across the Group, the Bank has more than 75,000 people worldwide, representing 115 nationalities in over 70 countries. Leading by example to be the right partner for its stakeholders, the Group is committed to building a sustainable business over the long term and is trusted worldwide for upholding high standards of corporate governance, social responsibility, environmental protection and employee diversity.