Wealth manager St James’s Place says 200 newly-qualified financial advisers have graduated its Financial Adviser Academy.
To recognise their achievement, the company held its 2026 Graduation Ceremony last Friday at London’s Odeon Luxe Leicester Square.
Speakers at the event included SJP CEO Mark Fitzpatrick who reflected on the graduates’ achievements and the part they will play in meeting the growing demand for financial advice.
Previous Academy graduates and current SJP partners Lorraine Sellwood and Nathan Ind shared their experiences of building a successful business and developing long-term careers in the financial advice profession. Gee Foottit, recruitment campaigns and partnerships lead for the SJP Academy, hosted a panel discussion with recent Academy graduates.
Mr FitzPatrick said: “The UK needs more advisers, but we also need a broader range of advisers. People with different experiences, different backgrounds and different perspectives, who are capable of building relationships with the clients we serve now, their children and perhaps even their grandchildren in the years ahead.
“Their role is to bring clarity, support and confidence to people at a time when such professional insight is badly needed.”
The SJP Academy was established in 2012 and the firm claims it is the largest and most comprehensive financial adviser training and development programme in the UK. SJP said the Academy was responsible for training around half of all new financial advisers entering the profession in the last five years.
The Academy includes former members of the military, professional sports people and female career returners. Many have started their own wealth management practice at SJP, the company said.
Academy Director Mark Newman added: “The Academy is helping advisers new to the profession to build the skills and confidence to provide trusted, personal advice in an increasingly complex financial world.”