The City of London Programme for practitioners, government
officials and regulators from the new EU Member States and
Accession Countries has been running for eight years. The
first Programme in 2003 was dedicated to practitioners and
regulators from the Czech Republic. In 2004 and 2011 the focus was
Poland; in 2005 the selected countries were Lithuania, Latvia and
Estonia; in 2006 and 2010, Hungary; in 2007, Slovenia and
Slovakia; Romania in 2008; and Bulgaria in 2009. The
Programme in 2012 will refocus on the Czech Republic.
The aim is to share best practice in regulation and related
matters, and build personal and corporate links between the City
and figures of influence in the new Member States and Accession
Countries.
The Programme consists of a tailor-made intensive induction
course, lasting five days, followed by a work placement in a firm
or institution. The participants spend 10 weeks in total in
London. The placement offers a unique chance for the participants
to gain insight into City practice and gives them the opportunity
to work within specific areas to enhance their knowledge of those
markets. In a number of cases that experience is gained by working
in Government and regulatory agencies, thus seeing how the
interface between government and financial services business works
in the UK.
Firms and institutions that have so far taken part in
the placement scheme include: Allen & Overy, Bank of New York
Mellon, Barclays Capital, Cameron McKenna, Chartis, the European
Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Eversheds, Goldman Sachs,
HSBC, JP Morgan, Norton Rose, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Schroders and
UBS Investment Bank, as well as the Financial Services Authority,
HM Treasury, and HM Revenue & Customs.
An Alumni Programme providing for annual update briefings and
renewal of contacts with hosts and Alumni from other
countries
is supported by regular email briefings on City issues. The
Programme is directed at the participants of previous City of
London Programmes. The Alumni are invited back to London each year
to attend the reunion reception followed by the Annual Forum on
Financial Issues.
A Fellowship Programme aimed at senior Alumni ensures that
relationships continue to strengthen. The Programme is being run
annually, offering Fellows the opportunity to research an area of
interest.
City of London Survey 2003 - 2010
Economic Development office conducted an on-line survey on the
running of the City of London Programme
Download the City of London Programme survey
results (63k)
Comments from some of the participants:
Razvan Orasanu, Adviser, The World Bank,
Romania
"The programme was the most comprehensive overview of the City
of London span of business that I was ever privy to. The most
important point of the programme was to make contacts. Overall, it
was a fantastic investment of two weeks - really unique."
Daniel Sztanko, Manager, Tax and Legal
Consulting, Deloitte
"My participation in the programme had a very positive impact on
my personal and professional skills. After my return to Hungary the
Hungarian Tax Authority made great use of my knowledge obtained in
London."
Polona Peterle, Member of the Management Board,
Ljubljana Stock Exchange
"It was one of the best experiences of my life. I got better
understanding and inside view on how the business looks like in
practise. I got a lot of new professional contacts. I’m very glad
that I could take part in this programme."
Malgorzata Feluch, European Commission,
Internal Market and Services DG
"First of all the Programme has broadened my knowledge and given
me practical insight into matters that have been only theoretical
to me so far. It has given me better understanding of what European
integration means for intermediaries, what challenges they meet,
what obstacles [they] come across. Another valuable experience
stems from the ability to see financial markets from a different
view point - not of a regulator but of a company operating in that
market and ability to see in practice what I so far have known only
theoretically."
Tomas Pilar, Risk Manager, Wood and
Company Financial Services, Czech Republic
"Soon after my return to Wood & Company I started to work in
compliance. The advantage is the possibility to compare how the
regulations work in UK and in the Czech Republic. During my stay in
London I also had a chance to meet another seven interesting
people from Czech Republic working in financial services business.
With some of them I’m still in close contact and it is much easier
to discuss and solve some problems with people who I know
personally."