New Voices  

Increasing accessibility will encourage young people to join financial services

“It’s become very difficult at the moment in the financial sector and there are not enough properties out there.”

While he spoke on the progress that Leeds Building Society has made in this issue, having assisted 50,000 people to get onto the property ladder last year, he acknowledged the biggest assistance would ultimately come from the government.

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Diversity

Abdur highlighted efforts that have been made in his current place of work to increase awareness and appreciation of diversity.

He explained Leeds Building Society holds “culture days” in which people from minority backgrounds are able to celebrate their backgrounds, while also helping to educate other workers.

“For example, I’m a Muslim, and we will celebrate Ramadan and Eid and, if someone is Hindu, they will celebrate Diwali,” he said.

He recounted how this had been able to help educate those around him.

"My manager didn't know what Ramadan was or what Muslims do to celebrate it."

He added: "It makes me proud in a certain way that I can educate people and they're willing to listen to me about my Muslim background."

tom.dunstan@ft.com

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