NOVEMBER 2009 NEWSLETTER
November 20, 2009
SFE COMMENTARY
As discussion of the industry’s health, future and structure continues apace, we are keen that all members are kept up to speed with SFE’s commentary on the issues. Owen’s speech from earlier this week at an Edinburgh Napier University event on re-building leadership in financial services may be of interest. Please also check our blogs and media coverage pages. And if you wish to comment on our commentary, please get in touch!
INDUSTRY SURVEY
Getting accurate and up-to-date information on the industry has perhaps never been more important. Given that, we would like to encourage SFE member companies to take part in the annual Scottish Review online survey which is undertaken by Joslin Rowe, in conjunction with Scottish Financial Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise.
Completing the survey takes 10 minutes, and responses will be held in strictest confidence, and presented in aggregate form only. Your participation will help ensure a clear picture of actual trends and likely developments in financial services recruitment. All of those who take part will receive a free copy of the final report and an invite to a briefing on the results in January. There’s also a £200 Fraser or Harvey Nichols voucher draw, and the 50th and 100th responses will also win a £75 voucher. Deadline for responses is 7 December. If you have any queries please contact Belinda Walmsley.
INNOVATORS AWARDS
Feedback from this year’s annual SFE dinner and Innovators Awards ceremony has been very positive. If such an event is judged on the number of attendees, and on how late they linger, then we reckon that this year was one of the best.
EVENTS
SFE is working on its 2010 programme of events, and we will update you on the first quarter’s programme soon. Suffice to say that it will include a mix of senior politicians, leading industry figures and other decision makers. We also aim to include one or two speakers from non-financial organisations who nevertheless have a strong connection with our industry.
CAREERS
A reminder to SFE members of our careers centre, which carries a wide range of financial services posts, and includes search facilities for locations and areas of expertise. Employers may also want to check the advantages of using it to advertise a vacancy.
Check out too the new Executive Skillsbank where managers and professionals who have been made redundant or are facing redundancy can register on a searchable database which logs their skills, experience and areas of expertise.
THECITYUK
Members may be aware of TheCityUK, the new, independent, practitioner-led organisation that will bring together, co-ordinate and lead the promotion of the financial and professional services industry from all corners of the UK. Check SFE’s chairman Mark Tennant’s comment on why we think it is the right initiative at the right time. We’ll keep members informed as it progresses to full launch early next year.
PUBLIC PROCUREMENT
Service provider members may be interested in the Scottish Government’s current consultation on procurement. Given the size and scale of government procurement contracts, officials are keen to engage with business organisations and ask that you get in touch with the named contacts on the document if you wish to participate.
EXTERNAL EVENTS
Please check the external events listed on our website, which this month has some interesting options, including DEMOfest at the University of Edinburgh’s School of Informatics, which will showcase computer science and informatics research from the Scottish Universities. There is also a Chartered Institute of Bankers Scotland event in London entitled ‘Re-Setting the Moral Compass’ and a series of McGrigors seminars on corruption and bribery (the latter two are not linked!).
