OpenworkOct 22 2020

Openwork looks to hire workers hit by cutbacks

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Openwork looks to hire workers hit by cutbacks

Openwork is looking to hire employees hit by coronavirus cutbacks in the wider financial services industry.

The advice network, which already has more than 4,000 advisers, said it was preparing for a recruitment push in the coming months with a particular focus on its academy. 

It called on those affected by job cuts across the financial services industry to look to the advice sector for retraining and employment opportunities. 

The Openwork Academy has already seen a record intake of 150 trainees this year, with 70 graduates set to join the network as wealth advisers and 40 as mortgage advisers by the end of this year. 

Mike Morrow, wealth and platform director, said: "It is a worrying time for many employees across the economy and even in the financial services industry with major banks and insurers cutting jobs.

"At Openwork we are very much focused on recruitment and are committed to increasing the number of advisers across our network to help meet the growing demand for financial advice.

"We are delivering on ambitious plans for expansion at the Academy for 2020 and into 2021 and are particularly interested in hearing from people looking to change their careers and to join a fast-growing business."

Whilst Openwork's academy is open to candidates from all walks of life including school leavers, graduates and career-changers, the average age of its students is 35 years old.

Despite the challenges of the coronavirus crisis this summer 100 firms joined the network during lockdown, predominately in the mortgage and protection sectors.

Earlier this month Openwork launched a training programme for university graduates as it warned of a "bleak" jobs market for young people. 

The programme will be open to graduates with a 2:1 degree or higher who have some sort of experience in the workplace and as part of an initial 12-month fixed-term contract trainees will work with advisers within the Openwork network. 

rachel.mortimer@ft.com

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