Brexit won't blunt London's edge
MBA students headed for global careers in tech and finance will continue to benefit from the London advantage
London Business School (LBS) gives students an edge when applying for jobs in tech or finance, according to Edward Dallas, Head of Employer Engagement, Career Centre at LBS.
Dallas, who specialises in developing relationships with employers to connect with student talent, told City A.M.: “The market is always a dynamic landscape and Brexit is just one factor among many ongoing changes. Whether it’s the rise of robots or the emergence of the gig economy, multiple factors are making the future increasingly complex.”
Tech giants Amazon and Google have both announced plans to expand in London. Dallas said that 21% of the most recent MBA class went into tech. “A significant proportion of our students use their time at LBS as a means to switch career. We regularly see people moving from say, finance to consulting, or consulting to consumer, or consumer to technology.”
David Simpson, Admissions Director, MBA and Masters in Finance at LBS, said: “London is an exciting, vibrant, global city, with opportunities and strengths across every sector. London’s ongoing success in tech, start-ups and across all major sectors gives our students a huge advantage. Beyond that, we offer the most flexible full-time MBA.”
He added: “As an institution at the heart of global business, we have experienced many economic and political changes over our 50-plus-year history, whilst continuing to grow and achieve great success. We run global programmes, recruiting students who want to work all over the world. So to some extent, we are insulated against any local economic changes.”
MBA student Brian Rose, speaking on FT Facebook Live, agreed: “The start-up activity in London, and at LBS particularly, is incredibly vibrant,” he said. He described an understandable “air of concern” on campus around Brexit, but said London would remain a key financial hub.
“The MBA facilitated my getting some serious finance experience – I’ve secured a summer internship at an independent investment bank. As of now, jobs are on a similar pace as they were previously. I haven’t seen any indication of change.”
Rose referred to the diversity of the student body: “In my study group there are six of us from five different continents. Having that interpersonal interaction is valuable. There are certain things that can’t be changed that make London unique.”
