Building the talent pipeline in Scotland

An overview of our activity in Scotland

Building the talent pipeline in Scotland

Scotland is the second largest centre for investment management in the UK. Since our inception, over 250 Investment20/20 trainees have joined the programme in Scotland, each becoming an important part of the investment management workforce.

We deliver a comprehensive talent outreach programme to schools, colleges, and universities in Scotland. Working with key partners, including Developing Young Workforce, Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Financial Enterprise and Future Asset, Investment20/20 promotes investment management as a great place for new talent to build a career. We connect the sector to the future talent pipeline and facilitate engagement with the skills landscape for our members.

Talent Outreach

Our autumn term activities in Scotland included two flagship events - a Careers Adviser Information session and an Insight Day at City of Glasgow College.

Almost 100 careers advisers and teachers registered for our introduction to investment management session, which provided an opportunity to learn about new developments in the sector and how careers advisers can support students applying to members’ Investment20/20 entry jobs. Our partners, Ambitious About Autism supported the event, giving guidance on best practice when delivering advice to young people with autism.

Working closely with Skills Development Scotland (SDS), many of their careers advisers were in attendance who in turn support their network of students.

^{It was an excellent event, showcasing the range of opportunities available to young people in the financial services sector. Careers Advisers who attended the event told me that the session helped them understand how they can support young people towards an exciting career path in financial service.}
^{Laura Wilson}^{, Sector Manager}^{Financial Services & Fintech}

We followed this successful event with an insight day for 120 students at City of Glasgow College in December – and what a fantastic day it was! Our amazing volunteers and the enthusiastic students worked so well together. We kicked the day off with a briefing on the purpose of investment management, helping to set the scene for the rest of the event.

Workshops on ‘Investing for Good’ gave students an insight on how investment management is addressing issues such as climate change. This is knowledge they were then able to apply to an investing game, delivered by our partners at Future Asset with support from their volunteers.

Networking was an important part of the event, and students heard from Investment20/20 trainees and apprentices, who shared their own career journeys and provided essential tips and advice.

Students took part in a recruitment skills workshop and gained an insight into what to expect from the recruitment process and helped to prepare students for applications to the Investment20/20 programme.

^{It was fantastic to work with Investment20/20 as part of our Finance & Investment Conference.  The programme of the day was filled with workshops and networking opportunities for our students. These opportunities enabled everyone involved to enhance their understanding of the investment sector and our students really embraced the event and took every chance to network, to be curious and to engage with all of the workshops, seminars and talks.  I am excited to work with Investment20/20 in the future.}
^{Chris Colvin,}^{Head of Financial Services at}^{City of Glasgow College}

Thank you to all our volunteers from abrdn, Aegon Asset Management, Artemis Funds, BNP Paribas Securities Services, First Sentier Investors, M&G, and Martin Currie.

We have more exciting events coming up in the remainder of the academic year, including events with Glasgow Caledonian University and workplace visits.

If you are an Investment20/20 member and want to get involved in our Scotland work, please contact your Client Relationship Manager Gina Griesel or Juliet Leith.

Young Person’s Guarantee

In 2022, Investment20/20 became a partner signatory of the Young Person’s Guarantee, an initiative that helps to connect young people to high quality employability support and jobs, reflecting the ethos of Investment20/20. Over the course of the summer and autumn, we ran workshops for employer members to support them in also becoming signatories, adding value to their early careers’ talent strategy.

We were delighted to support Aegon Asset Management (AAM) to become a signatory, reflecting their commitment to support young people in Scotland.

^{AAM are proud to support the Young Person’s Guarantee, joining employers across Scotland in creating the best opportunities for young people. We have opened up more entry level roles to provide accessible trainee positions through Investment20/20, where a degree isn’t required to begin a career in investment management. At AAM we believe in recruiting on potential, and we recognise the strengths that diversity of life experience and different backgrounds bring. At AAM we believe that people’s background does not determine their future.}
^{Lindsay Hudson}^{, Global Head of Diversity,}^{Equity & Inclusion}

AAM’s commitment has been welcomed, with Neil Pederson from the Young Person’s Guarantee commenting

^{We are delighted to have Aegon Asset Management signed up to the Young Person’s Guarantee, highlighting their support to the young people of Scotland. The accessible trainee opportunities they have opened through their work with Investment20/20 demonstrates how keen they are to diversify their workforce and ensure they are an inclusive recruiter.}
^{Neil Pederson}^{from the}^{Young Person’s Guarantee}

Firms can join The Young Person’s Guarantee at any point. If you are interested in finding out more please contact your Client Relationship Manager Gina Griesel or Juliet Leith