How we’re helping support more new talent in the financial services sector
Posted onIn our regular articles, we talk a lot about how financial planning changes lives. From enjoying the retirement that you want, to giving you more security, control, and peace of mind, good advice has a range of benefits to both your financial and emotional wellbeing.
It’s perhaps no surprise, therefore, that we believe that financial services can be a great career path for younger people. In many ways it is an under-represented career, and there are many different paths and options available to people wanting to join the profession.
For this reason and more, we’re proud to be one of the first financial planning firms to support a new initiative by The Verve Foundation that aims to support young people who want to develop a career in financial services. Read on to find out more about the scheme and how we’re helping.
Encouraging young people to consider finance as a career
In simple terms, financial planners change lives. Their advice and support can make you feel more confident about your money, boost your wealth, and help you to achieve all your life goals. Whether you want to retire early, spend more time with family, help your children financially, or simply mitigate your tax liabilities, a financial planner can help.
When looking at building a career, finance may not seem like the most exciting option. For a graduate, becoming a financial planner doesn’t perhaps have the cachet or excitement of cybersecurity, digital marketing, or content creation.
However, it can be a deeply rewarding career where you spend your life helping people to achieve their goals.
Despite a range of initiatives in recent years to attract new people into financial services, we still see greater volumes of professionals leave than we see new ones enter.
The Verve Foundation are a not-for-profit initiative whose aim is to “shout about how brilliant a career in finance is” and to encourage people from all walks of life to choose finance as their future.
To do this, the Foundation’s “We Are Change” initiative provides free training and qualifications to those looking to start a career in financial services.
Supporting young people to become financial planners
For any young person looking to work in the sector, the We Are Change initiative is designed to provide support. It’s particularly aimed at individuals who have been affected by the pandemic – so, made redundant or furloughed – and not to anyone already employed in the financial services industry.
There are no entry-level qualifications needed, but candidates will need a strong foundation in both basic English and Maths. The training is fully remote and available to everyone in the UK, although with an estimated 370 hours of study required for the qualification, it’s not for the faint-hearted!
After a rigorous recruitment process, selected candidates will be supported through their Level 4 Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning with the Chartered Insurance Institute. It is a fully funded training programme (on the basis the full programme of study is completed).
The training programme is delivered by The Art of Finance, an established training company who deliver educational workshops and practical skills e-Learning. This is available on either a full-time (one year) or part-time (two year) basis.
Black Swan are one of the pioneers of the We are Change initiative
This initiative offers an exceptional opportunity for a young person to kick-start their career in financial services.
The funding for the scheme is made possible by the support of a range of financial services partners. Alongside several other individuals and businesses in the sector, we have teamed up with The Verve Foundation to provide the financial and expert support needed to develop the first cohort of students.
As a firm who believe passionately in the power of financial planning, it felt like a no-brainer for us to get involved and to help sponsor a student through the training programme.
So far, the scheme has proved to be a resounding success:
- The Foundation have received more than 400 applications from across the UK.
- With the support of Black Swan and others, there’s now funding for the first 10 students to enrol on the programme.
- The first Student Welcome Day took place in March 2021.
- The first cohort begin their two-year training programme in April 2021.
We believe this is a fantastic opportunity to bring new talent into the industry and look forward to the sector reaping the rewards when the first batch of students achieve their Level 4 Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning.
Head to the Verve Foundation website to read more about the We are Change initiative.
Get in touch
If you’d like to find out how financial planning can benefit you, please get in touch. Email enquiries@blackswanfp.co.uk or contact your adviser on 020 3828 8100.
Please note
The value of your investment can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
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