How do you support decent work and economic growth?

As a firm, we believe in creating positive impact. The cost to achieve the SDGs is estimated at trillions of dollars per year. Even if public funding is maximized there will still be a big gap, making financing from the private sector critical.

The finance industry can–and should–play a big role in reaching the SDGs by 2030. Every financial institution must integrate social responsibility into the core of their business. We not only put this into practice through our business strategy, we also strongly encourage this in our employees and seek ways to promote it in society.

#TOGETHERBAND and the UN SDGs come together

One way we’re raising awareness and support for the SDGs is through the #TOGETHERBAND campaign, which we launched together with sustainable British fashion label BOTTLETOP.

Kicked off on Earth Day in April 2019, the campaign raises global awareness around the 17 SDGs by selling 17 different wrist bands (one for each SDG). Every band is made from sustainable products, and all the profits go toward funding projects that further the advancement of the SDGs.

How we’re supporting decent work and economic growth

We've just put the spotlight on SDG 8, which promotes decent work and economic growth. According to the United Nations half the global population is living off USD 2 a day which is far from a fair and equal wage. As the CEO of a global organization, I know how important it is for it to made up of skilled and talented employees. I also understand how important it is to create opportunities for people of all walks of life to acquire necessary skills that will help them get ahead in life.

At UBS, we’re involved with programs that underscore this sentiment. Here are a few highlights:

Powercoders is an organization we support by teaching coding skills to refugees. Through Powercoders, refugees have the chance to certify their education.

Change Please, a coffee bar that can now also be found in our London office, trains homeless people to be baristas, offering a “jobs-first” approach to tackling a challenging issue.

The Meri Dukaan (“My Shop”) app, launched by UBS Optimus Foundation and Community Affairs India, gamifies the fundamentals of running a small business. It’s designed to help youth build commercial skills and gain an understanding of financial and entrepreneurial concepts.

SwissSkills supports apprenticeships, which are an important success factor in our small but stable economy. I know first-hand how effective this kind of education can be and how far it can take someone. After all, I started my career as an apprentice at a local bank in Lugano, Switzerland.

Ready to help stop climate change, end poverty, or fight inequality? We’ve created a quiz to help you find out which goals speak to you.

UBS joined forces with BOTTLETOP to create #TOGETHERBAND to raise money for selected charities. Bottletop and UBS Financial Services Inc. are not affiliated.

This article is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be relied upon as investment advice or the basis for making any investment decisions. The views and opinions expressed may not be those of UBS Financial Services Inc. UBS Financial Services Inc. does not verify and does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information presented. No affiliation, association, sponsorship or endorsement is suggested or implied by UBS to any person, entity, company or organization appearing, featured or mentioned in the article.UBS Financial Services Inc. is a subsidiary of UBS AG. Member FINRA/SIPC. #shareUBS