Scots advisers thank academy

The St James’s Place Academy has supported eight financial advisers launch their own businesses in Scotland since l o c kdown measures were announced in March.

With three located in Edinburgh, three in Glasgow and t wo i n Aberdeen, t he new small business owners collectively represent almost a quarter of the 39 recent SJP Academy graduates across the UK who have been supported in setting up their own practices during the pandemic.

The new Scottish advisers range in age from 29 to 49 and have all pursued a career change from roles including a restaurant manager, video producer and an analyst.

Through its two- year training programme, the academy helps the UK’S next generation of highly qualified financial advice professionals to build a career in financial planning and wealth management. Those p a r t i c i p a t i ng t he n either launch their own business or choose to be an adviser within an existing partner practice.

The academy has continued to support those who were already enrolled into the programme and will re- open to new intakes later this year.

Since its creation in 2012, the academy has helped create 73 small and medium- sized enterprises ( SMES) across

Scotland, which have gone on to employ a number of advisers, administrators, paraplanners and marketeers.

Jason Flood, academy director at St James’s Place, said: “We’re proud to have helped so many advisers break into the industry since 2012, but particularly in the current business l andscape i t’s an i mmense achievement to have supported new businesses and helped with job creation.

“We s et up t he academy with the goal of encouraging more people into the financial advice profession, so we look forward to seeing these newly appointed owners become the financial planning employers of the future as their businesses grow.”