Sunak’s plan for jobs is an opportunity for advice firms

The financial advice sector should make the most of the KickStart scheme announced by Chancellor Rish Sunask as part of the government’s package of measures to ‘support, protect and retain jobs’, says Scott Stevens, head of adviser recruitment and acquisition at Quilter…

The financial advice sector should make the most of the KickStart scheme announced by Chancellor Rish Sunask as part of the government’s package of measures to ‘support, protect and retain jobs’, says Scott Stevens, head of adviser recruitment and acquisition at Quilter…

Rishi Sunak’s package today was all about jobs. How to ensure that as we move on from the current crisis that people – particularly the next generation – have a job. Not only for the financial security it provides, but also the sense of purpose and use that comes with getting up every day and going to work. 

As an industry we have talked until we are blue in the face about the advice gap and how we need more advisers coming into the industry, particularly a younger and more diverse cohort. But it’s not just advisers we need, it’s paraplanners, support staff and many others.

This government package is an ideal opportunity for the advice industry to put their hands up and say we need more staff and we are happy to get involved. Where possible advice firms should be looking for ways to use the Kickstart Scheme by setting up work placements for those aged 16 to 24 and apprenticeships for all age groups.

More than just good practice, it will be good for business as this will showcase our profession as one for younger people to consider. Plus, we cannot deny that many entrants to the job market will not have heard of financial advice and by opening up our doors to more workers we may in turn find that we inform more people about the value that financial advice can add.