FTAdviser.com

Advertising

Financial advisers and other finance professionals are being asked to contribute to an online resource designed to encourage new blood to join the sector.

Careers forums are to be held by the Financial Services Skills Council and Fidelity’s FundsNetwork in August.

The forums – three of which will focus solely on financial advice as a career path – aim to determine where the skills gap is being most keenly felt, consider what information is available to job-seekers about the roles and how a more accurate, more efficient picture can be conveyed.

Sam Rees-Adams, director of education for the FSSC, said: “I am not sure many young people or careers advisers see financial services as an exciting place to work.

“This online information service gives them an insight into the opportunities there are. There are a lot of myths and misconceptions, so the forums should give a clearer view of the diversity of roles available.”

After the forums, Direction, an online information service, will be launched, although the FSSC has already conducted face-to-face presentations with careers advisers, the key intermediaries for influencing school-leavers, university graduates and those looking to change careers.

Previous research conducted by the FSSC found that among students, job-seekers and career advisers awareness of the career opportunities available in financial services was very limited.

Sara Powell, head of training and professional development for FundsNetwork Platform for Learning, said: “The findings highlighted a lack of new entrants into the sector and that the entry routes and career paths through the industry can be unclear.

“The FundsNetwork Platform for Learning is working with the FSSC to find solutions. While we have a long way to go, we believe that hosting the IFA Careers Forum is a significant step in the right direction.”

There are 35 financial advisers involved in the forums, but the FSSC is encouraging as large and diverse as possible contribution from the retail financial services sector.