Research from the Financial Conduct Authority’s Financial Lives survey shows that while the overall picture has improved slightly over the past year, many people continue to struggle to meet financial commitments. 

In our latest Spotlight on Higher Education blog, Supta Das tells us about her Graduate Apprenticeship in IT management at Heriot-Watt University and how it helped her develop the key skills she needed to navigate to world of work and thrive in her current role at EY Scotland.

As part of Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2024, we asked the latest addition to the SFE team, Lana McGill to write a blog for us discussing her office administration apprenticeship, what she has learned over the past 6 months and how she feels she has progressed since joining.

If you’d like to be part of a growing industry, fancy a career change, or are looking to gain new skills and experience, consider an apprenticeship in Scotland’s financial services industry.

In our next spotlight on higher education blog, Matej Mezes, of PwC provides insight on his accountancy degree at Edinburgh Napier University whilst working a full time job as a duty manager at the Edinburgh University Pleasance gym before eventually landing a place on the Actuarial Services Graduate Programme at PwC.

In our first spotlight on higher education blog, Robert Glover from abrdn shares his career story to date, his regret at not pursuing higher education early in his career but how he has now corrected this through applying to a graduate apprenticeship scheme where he is now working towards a full Bsc Hon degree as a data scientist.

Our new Ways of Working report with CMS launches today and includes a range of insights on the latest trends and patterns in hybrid-working across Scotland’s financial and related professional services industry.

Find out about our Gender Equality Network in this interview in The Times Business Magazine with the Chair of GEN, Jackie Leiper where she discusses the progress we are making and the areas which we need to address, as well her own experiences and motivations for a more inclusive sector and the women in finance who inspire her.

As part of this year’s Scottish Careers Week we’re celebrating inspiring career stories that showcase diverse experiences and different career paths across our industry. Last but not least, Teresa Bradley shares her experience entering the financial services industry from a low socio-economic background

As part of this year’s Scottish Careers Week we’re celebrating inspiring career stories that showcase diverse experiences and different career paths across our industry. Anna Gillies from FinTech Scotland is up next to share her journey into financial services.

As part of this year’s Scottish Careers Week we’re celebrating inspiring career stories that showcase diverse experiences and different career paths across our industry. Ally Moncrieff from Lloyds Banking Group shares his story about a journey into financial services and wealth management.

‘Shaping our Economy’, commissioned by membership body Progress Together, is the largest study into socio-economic diversity and progression in financial services in the world.

In our latest insight blog, we spoke down to sat down with Sanghamitra Karra from Morgan Stanley’s Inclusive Ventures Group, which provides access to capital and connections to early-stage technology and technology-enabled companies led by underrepresented founders.

We were pleased to partner with KPMG and Progress Together last week for a roundtable discussion around social mobility, and how we ensure the industry is accessible to all and there are equal opportunities for progression for people from all socio-economic backgrounds and demographics. Read this article from Scottish Financial News which shares some key findings and takeaways from the event.

Since his son was diagnosed with autism, Capco's Aistair Proven has been exploring what neurodiversity really means and why its important that businesses and communities embrace people's difference and keep an open mind. Give Alistair's Spotlight on Diversity & Inclusion blog a read here.

The latest blog in our Spotlight on Diversity & Inclusion series comes from Sabrina Khan of Encompass Corporation. Sabrina discusses her Pakistani background and the unspoken barriers that can exist in ethnically and culturally homogeneous workplaces, and the steps that Encompass Corporation have taken to make her feel welcome.

The latest blog in our Spotlight on Diversity & Inclusion series comes from Rumaanah Fada of Lloyds Banking Group who emphasises the importance of speaking freely and openly about diversity and inclusion, the need to bridge the knowledge gap surrounding the topic and Lloyds Banking Groups ‘Bringing your whole self to work’ initiative and the positive effects that is starting to bring.

Following the recent James Withers review of skills provision and development in Scotland, Sandy writes in The Herald on opportunities to improve the system through structural change.

The programme is a part of our Skills Action Plan, launched last year to help us simplify career pathways, promote career benefits and opportunities, and strengthen how we develop the skills that are needed to help us continue growing and thriving.

SFE YP Committee member, Lorna Stephen has written a blog, sharing some of her reflections on our International Happiness Day event back in March along with some of the key aspects to creating a happy workplace.