Global InformationYolande Beckles information
Yolande Beckles (London, 1962—)[1] is a British educationalist, businesswoman, and diversity consultant.[2] She founded Global Graduates in 1998, a company aimed at raising the aspirations of, and teaching soft skills to mainly ethnic minority children.[3] Additionally, Global Graduates worked closely with The Law Society to create the latter’s Diversity in Law programme, which, according to the Society's CEO, Janet Paraskeva, improved "racial diversity in the profession".[4] Global Graduates collapsed in 2003.[1] After this, debts of over £125,000[1] were left unpaid and at least nineteen County Court judgments were lodged against Beckles.[5]
Shortly after the 2003 insolvency of Global Graduates, Beckles set up Global Graduates Education, where her mother was appointed as a director.[1] In 2004, Beckles, doing business as Global Graduates, offered guidance careers in law to minority students, and was sponsored by Allen & Overy, Freshfields, and Clifford Chance.[6] By 2005, Global Graduates services to legal students included “writing CVs, filling out application forms and interview techniques, as well as arranging talks and open days at top firms,” and had served 600 students.[7]
- ^ a b c d Julia Stuart (9 April 2006). "Yolande Beckles: Little Miss Know-all". The Independent. Archived from the original on 17 August 2007. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
- ^ Yvonne Roberts. "'I'm telling the real story. That's why I've been attacked'". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
moved into diversity consultancy. "I don't often mention the R word [racism], but when I go and address a business meeting and show them what a powerful, dynamic black woman can be like, they know the talent they are missing out on there."
- ^ NICK GILLIES (18 May 2004). "Legal placements: no longer a black and white issue". The Times. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
Global Graduates. The latter was set up five years ago by Yolande Beckles to boost the chances of children from ethnic minorities
- ^ "Global Graduates". Archived from the original on 5 June 2002. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
Janet Paraskeva, Chief Excecutive, The Law Society - "The Law Society worked closely with the team at Global Graduates in devising the Diversity in Law w programme. We believe the programme offers a practical way for solicitors and firms to turn policies into action and demonstrate their commitment to improving racial diversity in the profession."
- ^ Evening Standard - TV school guru "took kid's cash then flew off to meet religious cult"
- ^ Lisa Clifford (13 May 2003). "Young, gifted and stuck for a job". The Times. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
Yolande Beckles, the founder of the Global Graduates […] Beckles initially struggled to sell Global Graduates to a sceptical City. Eventually firms warmed to the scheme. She is now sponsored by Allen & Overy, Freshfields and Clifford Chance, among others. The Law Society was especially slow to sign up but is now collaborating with Beckles
- ^ GRANIA LANGDON DOWN (18 October 2005). "Outsiders learn the insiders' code". The Times. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
Global Graduates (GG), which runs programmes to help students from non-traditional backgrounds — about 75 per cent from ethnic minorities and 25 per cent white — to achieve their ambitions as lawyers […] GG offers students "soft skills" training in writing CVs, filling out application forms and interview techniques, as well as arranging talks and open days at top firms. Beckles explains: "Inner-city kids often miss out on self- confidence and networking skills. We give them the code to the game