Investment20/20 Outreach
Young people need reassurance that the labour market still holds opportunities for them. Schools, colleges and universities are reaching out to Investment20/20 to show their students that investment management has entry level roles and young people from a diversity of backgrounds are welcome.
We are increasingly utilising Instagram with members to showcase opportunities in our industry for young people. Students posted questions direct to five brilliant Morningstar ambassadors during our latest Instagram Q&A, and gained first-hand advice and guidance from Shanice Bishop, alumnus trainee, as well as Jamie Forman, Fabio Peyer, Jamie Goodwin and Alexandre Breuillard. Watch this space for future Instagram Q&A’s!
During February’s National Apprenticeship Week, pre-recorded Q&A videos featuring industry apprentices have been requested by schools with a reach of over 13,000 students. Apprentices from member firms will be showcased across all our social media platforms, demonstrating to young people the benefits of becoming an industry apprentice at your firms. Additionally, through an Instagram Q&A students and current apprentices will connect and hear first-hand about this route into the sector. We have similar plans for Scotland’s National Apprenticeship Week and Careers Week in March.
Scotland has been a focus for us with undergraduates and postgraduates from the University of the Highlands and Islands, University of Stirling, Queen Margaret University, University of Edinburgh, Robert Gordon University, University of Aberdeen and Edinburgh Napier University, among others, taking part in our Think Investments and Virtual Careers Insight programmes, connecting them to employers including Artemis, Franklin Templeton Investments, Martin Currie, Walter Scott, Ninety One, BNP Paribas Securities Services, Invesco, Santander Asset Management, Fidelity, Morgan Stanley Asset Management and Aberdeen Standard Investments.
Kirsty McKay, Graduate Recruitment Manager at Edinburgh Napier University said, “We were delighted to partner with Investment20/20 to help select students for their Think Investments and Virtual Careers Insights programmes. As an applied and inclusive university, we recognise the importance that exposure to industry has in helping our students to develop their skills, grow their networks and inspire their career aspirations. Taking part in these programmes gave our students the opportunity to do all of this! The valuable insights given to students across the two programmes helped to dispel the common misconceptions about working in the financial sector and showed our students how to excel at the recruitment processes expected within this. This will no doubt make our students an asset to any graduate employer! We can’t wait to watch each of them progress in their careers after graduation!”.
Our work with Developing Young Workforce and Skills Development Scotland has enabled more young people in Scotland to discover careers in investment management. On top of this, Foundation Apprentices and Higher National Certificate students at Edinburgh College will join our Think Investments programme later this spring with support from our Scotland employer partners.
Susan Torrance, Chief HR Officer at Martin Currie Investment Management Ltd says, “partnering with Investment20/20 is a key part of our strategic D&I agenda at Martin Currie as we seek to bring in young and diverse talent. Through participating we’ve been privileged to engage with and present to talented students who are passionate about our industry. Truly inspiring and a great pipeline for the future”.
Finally, in February 70 sixth form students will join us for our award-winning Think Investments programme. Supported by over 20 Investment20/20 partner employers, students will spend the week exploring career pathways, learning about industry hot topics and speaking to people working in the sector. Feedback from the 60 students who joined us for the programme in October 2020 tells us that the programme makes a difference. One student told us, “it’s been a long time since I have been this motivated”. Many students came from the London Borough of Croydon, where our partnership work with the Enterprise Coordinator, Phil Seruwo, enabled us to connect with many young people across the borough. Phil said, “this year has been tough and especially for young people eager to get into work. This is why the work of Investment20/20 has been critical, giving young people in Croydon a life line with a way into the industry.”
