Our people are the industry’s most valuable asset, we need to invest in our future talent.
We are only a few weeks into 2021 and its clear that the ferocity of the second wave of the pandemic and the pace of economic and political change have intensified. Financial markets have taken the elevated uncertainty in their stride and the investment industry has proven remarkably resilient.
That’s partly due to technology that made remote working possible but in my view is largely due to the industry’s most valuable asset - our people. Their ability to adapt to different ways of working has been truly remarkable. This resilience is to be celebrated but we also need to accept that the resilience also come at a cost that is often felt by individuals rather than firms. Our youngest generation of talent, the most tech savvy, has undoubtedly seen the biggest impact on their career and development aspirations. The pandemic put a lot on hold as we all focused on day-to-day delivery.
It’s also a sad but well documented fact that the economic dislocation brings greater collateral damage for those about to enter the jobs market as they finish their education. Previous recessions have been accompanied by “lost generations” of talent and this one is no different though the pandemic may be even more pernicious as it deepens inequality of income, wealth and opportunity.
For an industry so dependent on talent this is a real issue. After all it’s the past investment in talent that has created the resilience witnessed over the last twelve months.
We all need to play our part in building the sustainable recovery. That’s precisely where Investment20/20 comes in - offering an industry-wide approach and outreach into the wider community. Investment20/20 offers a multi award-winning talent programme for investment management, through supporting over 1,700 young people by giving them a foot on the ladder of our industry. And its initiatives, including the Government’s Kickstart scheme, ensure it engages with people furthest away from our industry.
Investing in future talent has never been more important. Through Investment20/20, you can do it in a sustainable and diverse way and help improve the industry’s remarkable resilience.
Keith Skeoch, Chair of the IA
Keith Skeoch, Chair of The Investment Association
