Volunteers from Shearman & Sterling’s London office are teaching financial literacy classes to year five (9-10 year old) students through the Business, Enterprise and Employability ("BEE") Programme. This London-based initiative, developed by Tower Hamlets Education Business Partnership, provides an opportunity for the students to meet professionals and learn more about the business world. We have partnered with the BEE Programme since 2013 and our London volunteers have grown in numbers as they see the impact their knowledge and time can have on young students.

Our London office volunteers teach a series of six workshops during the school year which focus on key financial knowledge, enterprise and employability skills including: teaching on needs and wants, spending and saving, jobs, taxes and banking, marketing and profit and loss. The children form ‘companies’ – complete with Marketing, Finance, Production and Managing Directors – which then design, produce and sell greetings cards and gifts at the Shearman & Sterling office. The school year culminates in a “Dragon's Den” style pitch where the students critique their companies and assess how the sale of their products went and how much profit they made for charity.

The winning company receives an award and all students receive participation certificates in financial literacy.