The path to a successful career in finance is evolving. While the "university-first" route was once considered the only gateway to the industry, Ruairidh Kilgour is part of a new generation of professionals choosing to bypass the lecture hall in favour of immediate, high-impact experience. Now a manager at a global consulting firm, Ruairidh opted for a Financial Services apprenticeship to secure a "massive head start" on his peers. By balancing the academic rigor of the ICAS Chartered Accountant (CA) qualification with the realities of client-facing work, Ruairidh’s journey offers a blueprint for how young professionals can build significant career capital from day one.

Sometimes, the most fulfilling career paths are found when you least expect them. For many, the journey into finance is a calculated move, but for others, it's a series of serendipitous moments and pivotal decisions. In this case study, we hear from Jay Robertson, a successful Senior Private Banker at Coutts on how an unexpected apprenticeship sparked a passion, reshaped ambitions, and led to a thriving career in the dynamic world of wealth management.

As we celebrate Scottish Apprenticeship Week, we are shining a light on the diverse paths young talent can take to build a career in Scotland’s world-leading Financial Services sector. Today, we speak with, Ashraf Abdulghaniyy Akeem a Graduate Apprentice at JPMorganChase, who shares how an apprenticeship helped them overcome significant financial barriers as an overseas student, the technical milestones they’ve hit in software development, and why building a community is just as important as writing great code.

This blog, authored by Scottish Financial Enterprise Young Professional's Climate Change & Journey to Net-Zero Workstream, reflects on a recent roundtable discussion with professional and financial services members of SFE on the topic of financing the transition. Read the full blog post here and join the conversation on how we can achieve our net zero goals together

SFE can today announce that Emma Noble, Group Director Conduct, Compliance and Operational Risk (CCOR) at Lloyds Banking Group has joined its board. Emma replaces Jackie Leiper who stepped down from the position at the end of 2025.

A new report from TheCityUK and PwC calls for faster, more decisive action to strengthen the UK’s competitiveness as a global financial centre. Download the report here.

SFE is pleased to announce that Ross Liston, CEO of M&G Advice, will serve as chair of its Wealth Management Group.

With a career dedicated to improving customer outcomes, he is recognised for championing professional standards, driving innovation, and fostering collaboration across the financial services industry. 

Scottish Financial Enterprise has launched an update to its skills action plan to help prepare the industry for rapid change in the wake of AI. The update comes as rapid advances in emerging technology and a competitive hiring landscape are reshaping the industry and seeks to highlight how best to prepare the workforce for an AI led world.

Scottish Financial Enterprise and leading law firm Burness Paull have joined forces to launch a new guide for firms considering locating in Scotland. The guide aims to build momentum from Scotland’s Global Investment Summit, co-hosted by SFE and the Lord Mayor of London earlier this month, which brought global investors to Edinburgh to showcase the best of Scotland’s investment opportunities across three key sectors.

We are delighted to announce that Rushad Abadan, Group General Counsel at Aberdeen Group, will become SFE deputy chair in place of Jackie Leiper who is retiring from Lloyds Banking Group later this year, effective from 1st January. Rushad will also chair the Nomination Committee. 

The 2025 Scottish Financial Services Awards, sponsored by EY, took place in Edinburgh yesterday evening, celebrating the contribution of firms and individuals to Scotland’s world class finance industry over the past year.

The awards broke down into eight categories, with winners reflecting the sector’s ambitions for sustainable, inclusive growth and to have a positive impact on society. The full list of winners can be found here.

The Independent Investment Management Initiative (IIMI) and Scottish Financial Enterprise (SFE) have announced that they have joined forces to expand SFE’s representation of Scotland-based boutiques, enabling these firms to contribute directly to the implementation of SFE’s asset management strategy. The collaboration marks a significant milestone, strengthening the voice of independent investment managers in Scotland’s financial ecosystem.

This summer, Scottish Financial Enterprise was pleased to host Maya Abadan for a week long internship as part of our commitment to nurturing future talent in Scotland’s financial and professional services sector.

As part of Maya’s internship with SFE, she wrote a short blog reflecting on her experience. You can read it here.

Scotland’s financial services sector could boost GVA by 21% and create 16,000 new jobs by 2028, according to new research from EY.

The report highlights Scotland’s strengths in talent, innovation, and cost competitiveness but also outlines key barriers to growth, including high personal tax, limited R&D support, and challenges surrounding attracting top-tier international talent.

In a world where career paths often seem linear, our latest case study features an inspiring journey that defies expectations. Amanda Byrne, an Associate at BNP Paribas, whose initial aspirations lay far from the financial sector – in nursing, to be precise. It was a pivotal Career Ready internship that unexpectedly ignited a passion for finance, revealing a hidden talent and a profound sense of belonging. Read Amanda’s story here.

Many of us embark on career paths influenced by family, yet often, it's the unexpected detours and a willingness to explore that truly shape our professional journeys. That was the case with Finlay Stewart who, despite initial aspirations of becoming an archaeologist, found his calling in the dynamic world of financial services. Read more in Finlay’s blog here.

As thousands of young people across Scotland receive their exam results today, our Chief Executive Sandy Begbie has written a piece reminding young people that there is no wrong path and that your willingness to learn, your mindset and your attitude to challenge matter just as much as exam results.

This week, we’re proud to support the #NoWrongPath campaign by Developing the Young Workforce, which shines a light on the many different routes people take into fulfilling careers. First up is Jess Insall, co-chair of the SFE young professional network, to share her story.

Before my internship I didn’t really know what to expect when I went into the workplace. The internship has made me realise that I might not go to college next year for joinery and would like to find a job in financial services.

Click here to read SFE’s response to the chancellor’s Mansion House speech and the Leeds Reforms.