FundsNetwork urges advisers to take a leaf out of Sir Alan Sugar’s book
31 March 2008
With the new series of The Apprentice now on our screens, Fidelity FundsNetwork says that apprenticeships could be the answer to the skills shortage in the independent advice sector.
To support bringing new talent into the industry, FundsNetwork has developed help and information for advisers to understand apprenticeships – how they work and how they are funded so that they can make full use of all available resources to recruit and train the best people possible for their business.
With the Government hailing financial services as being central to the UK’s economy, and its support for apprenticeships rapidly gathering speed, FundsNetwork predicts that the number of people choosing this route into the financial services industry will spiral. In fact the Government itself expects that 1 in 5 people will take up apprenticeships in the next decade – in line with its target of 400,000 by 2020.
Rob Fisher, Head of Sales & Marketing, Fidelity FundsNetwork said: “We urge the financial services industry to take some inspiration from Sir Alan and the new series of The Apprentice. There is no better time to address the issue of the skills shortage in our industry, and apprenticeships offer an excellent and cost effective way to attract new talent and up-skill existing employees.
“The work we are doing will help adviser firms to get the best out of offering apprenticeships – for both them and their apprentices. We will help them to understand how the schemes are funded and how they work so that they can take advantage of the frameworks developed by the Financial Services Skills Council (“FSSC”) across everything from Financial Advice to Investment Administration.
“Apprenticeships are a fantastic way for new recruits and existing staff to attain a professional qualification and demonstrate competence on the job at the same time and FundsNetwork expects the popularity of this route into work in our industry to increase.
“Key to its success, however, is building awareness across the industry that apprenticeships are a fantastic way to attract and retain some of the best talent, as well as making school and college leavers and young people generally know that these opportunities exist in financial services.”
For more information, please email FundsNetwork at: training@fundsnetwork.co.uk
