Top regional advisers sign up to support financial planning degree students

Four of the region’s leading financial advisers are offering paid internships to five students on

Bradford University School of Management’s new Financial Planning Degree – designed to raise standards in the sector.

The BSc (Hons) in Financial Planning, launched in September 2010, is unique in that students graduating with this degree are eligible for significant exemptions from the industry’s professional qualification examinations.

The School, one of the UK’s leading business schools, developed the degree in partnership with the Yorkshire Independent Financial Adviser Forum (YIFAF) to tackle some of the key challenges facing the sector.

Five students start paid placements over the summer with Shipley-based Beaumont Robinson, the Leeds offices of UK Wealth Management and Pearson Jones Plc and the Harrogate office of Perspective Financial Group Ltd.

Beaumont Robinson helped Bradford University School of Management to develop the degree. Managing director Michael Wall says:” “As one of the founding organisations that helped to establish this new degree, we believe that our support must go beyond simply lending our name to the School. We need to show talented young people that there is a good career in our sector. Internships are a way for us to demonstrate our commitment to the degree and for students to get vital hands-on experience.”

Dr Musa Mangena, director of studies, BSc Financial Planning and Senior Lecturer in Accounting at Bradford University School of Management says: “These are exactly the kind of work placements that our students need to ensure that they have the right skills and experience for future employment. The four firms are to be congratulated on embracing this opportunity to help train bright young talent for the industry. It is encouraging to us as a management school to see businesses getting involved in supporting our students and the degree programme.

“With increases in tuition fees we know that more young people are looking for degrees that increase their chances of employability. Our degree is unique in that graduates will be exempt from a number of units in the industry’s professional diploma, so should be able to qualify quicker.

“We would like to hear from other businesses in the sector that can help us in developing the right skills and experience young people need to be employable.”

IFAs interested in finding out more about the Financial Planning degree should contact Elaine Dean at Bradford University School of Management on 01274 234329.