Clifford Chance give ELBA intern a career opportunity

By Simon Hayes on April 3, 2008 9:00 AM |

Tagged with:

LIKE many graduates Fahad Abdi was at a crossroads when he finished studying and wanted to embark on his career.

But the 23-year-old from Bow, who studied history, was lucky enough to benefit from a scheme set up by the East London Business Alliance (ELBA).

Its Community Affairs Trainee Scheme (CATS) aims to provide employment opportunities with City and Canary Wharf companies for graduates living in Tower Hamlets.

Last year it placed 11 graduates in companies including the FSA, Credit Suisse and Canary Wharf Group, and Fahad has been with Clifford Chance in Bank Street.

He said: “I went to some ELBA meetings and through them I was able to apply for the CATS scheme and was lucky enough to be selected. I had two months training with ELBA before starting here last September.

“While I’ve been here I’ve helped develop the company’s community affairs intranet as well as help set up a Freelaw centre on the Isle of Dogs.

“It’s been great to gain the experience of working in the corporate environment while helping to set up community involvment programmes.”

Fahad’s six-month internship ended last month but he impressed Clifford Chance so much it took him on part-time for a further three months. It means Fahad, who moved to the UK at the age of seven from Kuwait, can pursue other projects as his career develops. This includes a part-time internship with Merlin, an international humanitarian non-governmental organisation.

But he has no doubt the ELBA scheme has been instrumental in setting him off on the right path.

“I’d definitely recommend other people to follow me and apply for CATS,” said Fahad. “It’s a good way into the corporate world, especially in the field of community social responsibility, which is a very competitive area.

“And I meet up regularly with the other graduates from the scheme to discuss things and compare notes, which is a great help in developing new ideas. But for me the reward is working to help other people. It’s my dream job.”

See www.elba-1.org.uk.

simon.hayes@wharf.co.uk