Think about the last film you saw that featured a bank, it can be anything; The Town, The Big Short even Mary Poppins. Chances are, the people in power were men, middle-aged white men in suits. Maybe there was a woman as well, probably a secretary to the male lead or the moral conscience of the narrative; rarely are they the ones calling the shots.  

But what if this narrative is outdated?  

Yesterday I had the honour of joining BelEve at their career insight day at the Bank of England. Stepping through the doors of one of the UK’s most important institutions, I witnessed a story that was entirely different to the one you usually see on the big screen. My day was run by 3 incredible women, each of whom brought something different to the table: sharp insights, warmth, authority and most importantly, authenticity. I received a real, black and white insight into what it was like getting into and working in this industry. 

 I listened and spoke to women who had started their careers as personal assistants and now lead departments, women who hadn’t gone to university but carved out powerful roles through their persistence and passion to make a difference, and women who had moved from across the world.   

One of the most striking parts of the day was hearing the personal journeys of women from a range of backgrounds; we met people who had moved from across the globe and now hold senior roles, people who came from working class backgrounds and had done an array of jobs prior to being at the bank, women who didn’t know what they wanted to do when they left school and went travelling. Their stories weren’t just about becoming successful or ‘making it’, but they were about resilience, self-belief and most importantly, support systems.  

It was made clear to us they had not achieved this dream alone; they leaned on mentors, they asked questions, they made mistakes, and they reached out to others coming up behind them. There was a strong sense throughout the day that the women at the Bank weren’t just carving out individual careers themselves, they were making space for one another, holding doors open for others and creating a culture where success is shared. There was something incredibly powerful in that, in seeing women not as competitors but as collaborators. In a world where we are often taught to fight for our seat at the table, in the words of Dr Martin Luther King Jr, “let’s build a bigger table”.  

Thanks to BelEve, I spent the day inside The Bank of England, a space I once saw as distant, formal and in all honesty, unattainable. But what I found out was the complete opposite. I received a real, honest insight into the job opportunities available, from communications to technology, and even creating and producing banknotes. The panel was a standout moment for me, these women didn’t sugarcoat their experiences, they allowed space for our questions and curiosity and shared stories about confidence, mistakes and growth. Jennifer Small (Head of Notes at BoE) said regarding barriers “go over them, round them or break through them”, and that really stuck with me.  

This day didn’t just open my eyes to new opportunities, it made me see myself in them. It gave me access to a world that once felt unattainable, and it reminded me why organisations like BelEve are so deeply important, because sometimes all it takes to change someone’s narrative is a seat at the right table, surrounded by women who look like you and believe in your future.  

Films might still be catching up, but in real life, women are already rewriting the script. I saw it yesterday and I’m ready to be a part of it.  

Written by Charlotte Anderson-Priddie