The CISI is encouraging financial services firms across the UK to offer work experience to young people. James Charlton, Chartered MCSI, Fund Manager at Tilney Bestinvest and our Liverpool & North Wales Education Secretary & Vice President, explains the value of offering placements
What work experience opportunities do you offer?
The inaugural CISI Liverpool & North Wales Investment Insight Conference, part of the Institute’s pilot work experience week, took place this year. The conference was designed to complement the studies of those students who are enrolled on the region’s education programme. We arranged three days of work experience placements for 25 students across various firms within Liverpool, giving them insight into a number of roles within financial services, including investment managers, compliance officers and operational support staff. In addition to this, the students participated in two days of workshops to provide them with the necessary skills to work within the industry. We intend to run the conference annually as we look to inspire those students who are considering a career in financial services.
As a firm very much in its infancy, the CISI’s work experience programme was seen as somewhat of a pilot for Tilney Bestinvest. It has been such a resounding success that we are now planning to roll out similar programmes in our other regional offices across the UK.
How does work experience benefit young people?
It gives them a unique opportunity to experience the financial services sector for themselves, allowing them to form their own opinions of the industry and the various careers they can pursue. The conference provided students with the opportunity to further develop core skills, which will prove invaluable regardless of the industry in which they build their careers.
What benefits does it bring for your firm and for firms in general?
It allows firms to support the development of the region’s next generation of investment professionals and creates opportunities that will allow us to attract and retain top local talent.
How does the CISI support firms that sponsor work experience?
The CISI works with firms across the UK to provide worthwhile work experience forstudents studying professional qualifications in school and college. We have an advanced education programme in the Liverpool & North Wales region, which receives the full support of the regional committee, our members and the CISI’s education development team. We worked together during the week to match students and firms depending on their area of interest/expertise. We were well aided by our CISI colleagues in London.
The CISI is looking for practitioners and employers to work with to give young people across the UK access to the industry. If you are interested in getting involved, email educationdevelopment@cisi.org or call 020 7645 0714.
The original version of this article was published in the September 2015 print edition of the Review.