The Personal Finance Society (PFS) has announced that 250 individuals have so far expressed interest in its Pathway to the Profession initiative.
The programme will support students taking their first step towards gaining their Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning.
Launched in July, the initiative is a £1mn investment designed to attract talent for the benefit of the financial planning profession.
PFS said within eight weeks, more than 250 individuals have expressed interest, over 200 of which stated that they had no previous experience or qualifications in financial planning or advice.
Successful candidates will access a wide range of member benefits, including CPD events, networking opportunities and mentoring.
At the Pathway to the Profession launch event in London, PFS president Carla Brown was joined by fellow board members Edward Grant and Gill White to announce details of the initiatives.
These include nearly £200,000 of funding for collaborative activities with Coventry University, everywoman, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, UCAS, and upReach, to support education and career development for future professionals.
A further £50,000 has been allocated to the delivery of a new annual symposium to showcase the profession to young people, and a final £500,000 will be invested following consultation with PFS members.
Among the £1mn is also a £200,000 investment made to support 500 students taking the R05 Financial Protection module, as a first step towards gaining their diploma.
They will also benefit from free PFS membership.
The R05 module is a recognised financial planning qualification focused on financial protection, which also aims to build essential financial literacy skills for the future.
Brown said: “We are delighted by the initial response to this PFS Pathway to the Profession initiative, which demonstrates an appetite for meaningful careers in financial planning.
“By investing in talent and creating clear, accessible entry points into the profession, the PFS is proud to demonstrate its commitment to strengthening the future of the financial planning sector.”
sonia.rach@ft.com
