Meet Haneef, the 10th Spear Programme trainee to be hired by the global fintech LMAX Group.

Haneef fled Afghanistan aged five, with his family. Growing up in the UK, he became fascinated by law.

“Afghanistan…was chaotic. In the UK, it’s stable and orderly and that piqued my interest in law. I studied it at university and wanted to be a lawyer but I kept getting rejected for jobs as I lacked experience. So I was on Universal Credit and I was feeling quite disheartened.”

His brother suggested The Spear Programme, which coaches young people to equip them for work. During a mock interview at Spear North Kensington, in London, Haneef met an LMAX volunteer.

LMAX spotted the passion and potential in Haneef which others had missed, and he’s now landed an apprenticeship as a legal assistant and is heading for a career as a solicitor.

LMAX knew that Spear trainees make fantastic employees – it had already hired nine, all of whom are still at the company. Among them are two who’ve been promoted three times since joining in 2021 – one is now a software developer.

“Programmes like Spear are invaluable. They open doors for talented individuals from diverse backgrounds who may not have access to commensurate opportunities, but who demonstrate real potential, resilience and ambition,” says David Mercer, CEO.

“At LMAX Group, we believe in true meritocracy, that talent and drive should define success, not background, connections or circumstance. By broadening where and how we find talent, we strengthen our organisation with fresh perspectives, skills and people who embody the drive to grow and contribute.”

Spear relies on great partnerships with forward-thinking companies. This partnership came about thanks to the vital work of Kensington + Chelsea Foundation, which supports local young people to develop skills and to make the most of life. K+C has been a strong supporter of Spear North Kensington for more than six years, helping us to transform many lives.