News

News

Scotland's financial services sector continues to appeal to graduates and new recruits

06/08/08

Despite the current global economic uncertainty, prospects for the financial industry in Scotland remain positive and robust with wide positive profit forecasts for 2008, according to the 2008 Financial Services Industry Annual Report published by the Scottish government. In a separate report, the latest Joslin Rowe Scotland Financial Services Recruitment Review says that 55% of respondents to its survey will be increasing permanent employment numbers during 2008, with 67% of them stating this will be due to business growth.

Scott Boath, lead tutor in Edinburgh for BPP Professional Education, commented: “If you look at GDP figures, Scotland’s financial services sector has consistently grown ahead of general industry trends since 1998 so there is a strong underlying trend of industry growth. This sector is therefore an attractive route for graduates and new recruits, especially with average salaries approximately 22% higher than average.”

Kellie Milne, Operations Graduate Trainee at Standard Life Investments, is one of many Edinburgh based graduates currently training with BPP who is looking to take advantage of this regional trend and develop her career in Edinburgh’s growing financial services industry. Kellie recently won an award in the Introduction to Securities & Investment Category at the SII Scottish Summer Reception, hosted at the Balmoral Hotel in 21st May 2008.

She commented; “The Investment Operations Graduate Training Programme devised by Standard Life Investments is specifically designed to develop future operations managers with the broad ranging skills and experience needed to succeed in a sophisticated investments arena. The programme lasts two years and entails a series of placements in the key business areas of Investment Operations. Professional and managerial development is the goal of this programme and various qualifications, including the Investment Administration Qualification (IAQ) and Investment Management Certificate (IMC), are mandatory undertakings. Gaining the IAQ by training with BPP has served to furnish me with essential knowledge of the investment industry. So often in a working environment, time is spent bringing a trainee up to speed with the detail of a project or issue and it is all too easy to forget that even the most basic knowledge has to also be taught.”

BPP is hosting an open evening in Edinburgh for anyone looking to gain either entry level qualifications (such as the IMC or IAQ) or professional level qualifications (such as the CFA®) to work in Scotland’s investment industry on Thursday 16th October 2008. You can book your place using our online registration form.