"We're having to compete for talent and where better to look than next door," Richard Hardie, vice-chairman of UBS, said last week.

Was he talking about hiring teams from rival firms in London's Broadgate Circle such as Icap or Henderson Global Investors? Not exactly. Hardie and UBS were playing host for The Brokerage, a charity celebrating its 10th anniversary of introducing secondary students from the capital's inner-city boroughs to the City's great and good. Hardie said UBS had targeted 10 Brokerage participants this year for operations roles and hired nine – one candidate, who said he would not give up his penchant for spreadbetting, was not invited to join. HSBC, Commerzbank, EDF Trading and Arbuthnot Latham have made back-office hires in the past 12 months. Lord George of St Tudy, former head of the Bank of England, was guest of honour and told attendees how he was humbled by students brought in to the bank on Brokerage programmes who beat him soundly at maths. Firms and individuals looking to get involved should visit www.thebrokerage.org.uk.