Apprenticeships creation at investment company

Sep 8 2008 by Tony McDonough, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL-BASED Rensburg Sheppards is to become the first wealth management firm in the UK to offer apprenticeships in investment management.

The company, based at the Plaza, in Old Hall Street, has teamed up with financial services training provider Skills Solutions to offer the training to 18 members of the firm’s administration staff.

They have enrolled for the government-backed initiative to begin next month.

The maximum two-year work- based study course offers an NVQ in Retail Financial Services and a Securities & Investment (SII) accredited Investment Administration Qualification.

Richard Sharp, training manager at Rensburg Sheppards in Liverpool, said: “The apprenticeship provides qualifications equivalent to those achieved via further education, while offering people the chance to gain financial sector experience and avoid student debt.

“Offering the course will help promote skills and career opportunities for our employees, which will further assist personnel recruitment and retention as well as the continued development of investment management in Liverpool.”

Skills Solutions is accredited by the Financial Services Skills Council (FSSC) and has delivered the apprenticeships for leading financial organisations including the Bank of New York.

Sam Rees-Adams, director of education of the FSSC, said “We’re delighted by Rensburg Sheppards decision to engage with the advanced apprenticeship programme.

“The combination of skills, knowledge and expertise mirrors the Financial Services Authority’s Training & Competence requirement and ensures that investment administrators are fully proficient in their roles.

“We look forward to other investment management firms following Rensburg Sheppards’ lead.”

In 2007, the Minister for Skills, David Lammy, said that investment administration apprenticeships would transform the competitiveness and productivity of the financial services sector.

Judith Furlong, business adviser for the business and financial services sector at Skills Solutions, added: “The approach we’ve developed in partnership with Rensburg Sheppards will enable existing administrative personnel to cost-efficiently gain nationally recognised qualifications and provide a new route for school leavers to enter the financial services sector.”

tonymcdonough