Harry Meighan, Marketing Executive at Scottish Financial Enterprise, shares how an unexpected interest in business during his final year at school led him towards a career in marketing. He reflects on choosing an apprenticeship rather than university, beginning his career during the COVID-19 pandemic and discovering the value of learning through hands-on experience.

Psychology graduate and Internal Audit Trainee at Henderson Loggie, Molly Ross shares how curiosity, self-belief and a willingness to embrace uncertainty helped her find a career that brings together her analytical skills and interest in people. She reflects on taking an unconventional route into professional services, learning to trust her instincts and finding a workplace where she can continue to grow.

After an unexpected change in direction, a degree in Business Management with Marketing and a valuable third-year placement helped shape her path into marketing. She reflects on discovering an interest in digital content and consumer behaviour, and why taking a different route can still lead to exciting opportunities.

As part of #NoWrongPath Week, Caitlin shares her journey from medicine and biomedical engineering into business, finance and an internship at SFE, reflecting on how following her curiosity helped her find a career path that brings together her technical strengths and commercial interests.

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.

As part of #NoWrongPath Week, Bruce Fleming, Digital Product Owner at M&G, shares how leaving school at 16, completing an apprenticeship and embracing opportunities beyond his day-to-day role helped him build a fulfilling career in financial services.

In the blog, Darcy Hunter-McCallum reflects on her four-week Career Ready internship with SFE, sharing her experience of moving from school into her first office role. She looks back on the skills she developed, the meetings and projects she contributed to, and what she learned about working as part of a professional team.

Scottish Financial Enterprise – in partnership with Royal Bank of Scotland, Financial Inclusion for Scotland and the Money and Pensions Service - has launched a new pilot programme, with support of the FCA, aimed at improving young people’s access to bank accounts and strengthening financial literacy in schools across Scotland. 

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.