The inaugural event was held on Friday 22 October 2018 at Succession Wealth in the city centre
by Matthew Bolton, CISI teaching and learning specialist
Tom Perks, Chartered MCSI, investment manager at Quilter Cheviot, providing tips on the dos and don'ts for acing a job interview
Our first Insight event in Birmingham was a huge success, with students gaining inspiration to embark on a career in financial services, having gained an insight into the sector.
CISI Insight events are offered to students studying CISI qualifications at schools, colleges and universities. Over the past four years, events have taken place at firms in London, Liverpool, Manchester and Jersey.
Twenty-six students from Solihull School and Aston University took part in the event at Succession Wealth’s fantastic modern offices. They were joined by professionals from Succession Wealth, Quilter Cheviot and the CISI.
Value of soft skills in employability The event not only enlightened students by exploring areas of financial services which are arguably less well known and understood, it also focused on developing the soft skills employers regularly bemoan are missing from individuals when they first enter the labour market. Students participated in sessions on teamwork, problem-solving, communication, interview skills and networking, building upon their existing skills in these areas.
They also had the opportunity to chat to some of Birmingham’s finest financial planning and investment management professionals during a speed-networking session, during which they practised their newly acquired networking skills and techniques. Tim Parsons, managing director of Succession Wealth, dropped in on the session (pictured below).
The event concluded with students flexing their moral muscles to consider some of the CISI’s ethical dilemmas – traditionally reserved for those already working in the profession. They also put a specially selected panel of recent graduate recruits from Succession Wealth through their paces via an informative Q&A session, to find out more about working in finance.
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A student from Solihull School said: “I am now far more aware about the different options open to me at as I come to the end of year 12. The event has provided me with more confidence in how to perform well in an interview situation and provided me with valuable networking skills.”
The professionals involved in the event also left feeling uplifted by the young people they encountered. Mark Rogers ACSI, the recently appointed CISI Birmingham Committee president and wealth planner at Succession Wealth, was instrumental in organising the event. He said: “The day summed everything we were trying to achieve. We had a group of incredibly enthusiastic young people who wanted a taster of what financial services is all about. We had practitioners who are passionate about their profession presenting the many and varied opportunities available within financial services. Succession Group were delighted to be able to host this incredibly rewarding event.
Inspiring futures and developing the next generation of finance professionals
Would your firm like to be involved in promoting our sector, and potentially your firm as a future employer, to students? Do you know a school that might be interested in taking our professional qualifications alongside A Levels?
Please contact the CISI education development team at educationdevelopment@cisi.org or call 020 7645 0714 to find out more.