BSix students pressed Barclays’ chief Antony Jenkins on his bank’s role in the manipulation of the LIBOR rate and the payment of extortionate bonuses in a discussion chaired by BBC’s business editor Robert Peston.
The A-Level and BTEC business students also quizzed the chief executive officer on some of the darker elements of the banking industry during the discussion which was recorded for BBC radio and will be broadcast on New Year’s Eve.
Raymond Edwards asked: “If your bank is now geared to customer service, how come when I went to open an account I was pressured to take out an overdraft that I didn’t want?”
Describing his own background - neither of Jenkins’ parents had a university degree - the Barclays chief urged students to aim high, telling them motivation, interest, and a little luck were the keys to his success.
Jenkins urged students to “find their passion” and said three challenges would face future generations - population growth, climate change and youth unemployment.
The event at the college in Kenninghall Road, Lower Clapton, was organised by Speakers for Schools, a charity that arranges for high-profile individuals to speak at state schools and colleges.
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