Students across the UK are facing growing financial pressures, and it’s having a real impact, not just on their bank accounts, but on their wellbeing, academic outcomes, and long-term opportunities.
In this week’s webinar, Larissa Eddie, Corporate Manager at Blackbullion, led a deep dive into how corporate-led scholarships can help bridge the student finance gap and drive meaningful social and business impact.
The Reality of the Student Finance Gap
The numbers are stark.
According to Save the Student’s 2024 Money Survey, the average student spends £1,104 per month on essentials, while the average maintenance loan equates to just £600 per month.
That leaves a £504 monthly shortfall, a gap that is widening year on year and putting increasing strain on students’ mental health, academic performance, and ability to complete their studies.
This isn’t just a personal issue, it’s a workforce pipeline challenge that affects every sector.
Scholarships as Strategic Investments
Larissa outlined how scholarships have evolved from being acts of goodwill to strategic investments in fLarissa outlined how scholarships have evolved from being acts of goodwill to strategic investments in future talent.
Corporate-led scholarships enable employers to:
- Build diverse and skilled talent pipelines aligned with workforce needs
- Advance ESG, CSR, and D&I goals through measurable social value
- Strengthen employer branding with purpose-driven initiatives that resonate with Gen Z
- Deliver tangible returns, with every £1 invested generating up to £21 in social value
As Larissa shared, “It’s not just the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do.”
How Employers Are Making It Work
The session featured examples from organisations already leading the way:
- Accenture, supporting women in STEM through targeted maintenance scholarships
- Nationwide, driving diversity in banking by funding students from lower-income backgrounds
- Chaucer, combining financial support with mentorship and internships for deeper impact
Blackbullion’s scholarship infrastructure helps partners design, distribute, and track these programmes, ensuring impact is both measurable and scalable.
Looking Ahead: Career Blueprint
The session closed with a look at what’s next.
In November, Blackbullion will host a follow-up webinar introducing Career Blueprint, an expansion of our financial education platform, helping students and graduates navigate early careers through AI-driven learning pathways and practical financial guidance.
This new offering aims to connect financial confidence with career confidence, empowering young people to take control of both their money and their futures.
The message from Tuesday’s session was clear:
Financial wellbeing and social mobility are no longer side projects, they’re business imperatives.
By investing in students through meaningful financial support, employers can close opportunity gaps, build stronger teams, and create lasting social impact.Interested in learning more about corporate-led scholarships or our upcoming Career Blueprint webinar?
👉 Reach out to Larissa at larissa@blackbullion.com
or follow @Blackbullion for updates on future sessions.
