PIMFA
PIMFA and CISI School Leavers Program
PIMFA are collaborating with the CISI to develop and implement a school leaver program to help increase our gender and ethnic diversity within financial planning, financial and investment advice roles in the financial planning and wealth management profession. This program provides access to firms from a broader base of students, something which we know many of you are considering as part of your recruitment plans and drive to increase diversity of new intake to your firms.
Many of you already actively promote the career pathways in schools and as you know, PIMFA worked with a pilot of firms and The Brokerage this last year to do just that. This collaboration will go one step further and facilitate entry-level job roles for school leavers with a training pathway.
Please register the interest of your firm in participating in the program by emailing us at enquiries@pimfa.co.uk and offering one to two students a two year paid job placement, which is integral to the program’s success.
How will it work?
The school leaver program comprises CISI Professional body qualification, skills workshops, insight events and a two-year employment placement.
Year 13 Students will complete the CISI Level 2 Award in Fundamentals of Financial Services qualification as a prerequisite and then embark on work ready skills workshops, insight events and interviews facilitated by CISI and PIMFA firms.
When the students leave school with their qualification they will work with you on a two- year employment program during which the students will sit the CISI Level 4 Investment Advice Diploma, with the Financial Planning and Advice paper as the elected module.
The program will start in London, where the CISI already has a program that attracts students from schools and colleges in less privileged areas of London. This is a proven partnership which will ensure that we reach a diverse mix of students and facilitate social mobility, a critical objective of this initiative. The second ‘hub’ will be nationwide, engaging with state school students near by PIMFA partner firms.
The CISI will source a teacher for the students, provide teaching tools and offer the professional qualifications at a significantly discounted price. The CISI Regional Network and PIMFA firms will also support the students with mentors, insight events, and an understanding of the expectations and demands of working life. The CISI will co-ordinate with charities such as Smart Life, to ensure students have appropriate clothing and equipment and will ensure students have mentors outside their own firm and study support.
Firms can participate in multi-firm meetings to discuss progress, share concerns and learn from others.
Initially the pilot would aim to recruit at least 15 students in London and 15 nationwide.
A diagram of the scheme can be found here.
What is your input?
Participation in workshops and insight days.
Interviewing students for work placement
A fixed salary and two-year employment on completion of the school program – timing from September 2022
A further £1000 per student towards study and the teaching post including exam costs
We do hope you will agree to support this program. We will be holding a briefing meeting in September to discuss this further. Please indicate your interest in being involved and further details of the meeting will be forwarded to you.
Register your interest here by emailing us at enquiries@pimfa.co.uk
