Asking for Directions
A new online service on careers in the Financial Services and Accountancy was officially launched on 17th October 2008.
The new service, Directions, is aimed primarily at careers advisers and teachers, and can also be used by students, parents and anyone advising on careers in finance. It has been developed by the Financial Services Skills Council (FSSC), which provides strategic leadership for education, training and skills development for the UK financial services and accountancy industries.
The website offers a one-stop shop for people seeking careers information on the finance industry. The content, developed and tested with employers and industry bodies, includes factsheets and job profiles, information on entry routes, and much more. The first phase of Directions to go live covers: Wholesale Banking, Wholesale Insurance, Investment Management, Third Party Administration, Retail Insurance, and Financial Advice. Sections on Retail Banking and Credit, Finance and Leasing, and Accountancy will be added in the coming months, and video and written case studies will go online early in 2009.
"In the current economic climate, it's more important than ever to ensure that careers advisers have access to an objective source of information about the financial sector," says FSSC Chief Executive Teresa Sayers. "We would argue that, in uncertain times, objective information and advice is more important than ever. This sector accounts for the livelihoods of nearly two million people across the UK. These are significant industries that will still need to invest in the skills of staff for the future."
There are a number of training and development opportunities on offer across Scotland that can help individuals secure their first job in Financial Services or support their career development if they are already working in the sector. Earlier this year the FSSC and Skills Development Scotland worked together to embed a Course search on the FSSC website to provide a central repository on training information for this sector. From Banking to Leadership to Investment, learners can find a course to suit.
If you offer training in any of the above areas and are keen to have your details listed on our websites and that of the FSSC please contact the Information Services team on 0141 285 6100 or email info.services@sds.co.uk for more details.