SJP to boost number of disabled financial advisers
Wealth manager St James’s Place (SJP) is hosting a live event to encourage more people with disabilities to apply for roles as financial advisers.
SJP says it has along term ambition to bring those with disabilities into the financial advice sector and to help others to overcome health challenges to train as financial advisers.
SJP’s Academy has been working with Kaleidoscope group - which works with employers to encourage them to consider disabled job applicants - since December 2022 to create an ‘incubator’ programme for up to 10 would-be financial advisers to support them through training with the SJP Academy.
The company will host an in-person event on Tuesday 1 August from 4pm at SJP's offices in the City of London.
There will be insights from successful SJP advisers who have disabilities, including Oliver Carpenter, who is a wheelchair user following a spinal injury, and Dan Buckland, who has ADHD, Dyslexia and Dyscalculia.
Andy Payne, head of the SJP Academy, said: “It's great to be hosting a dedicated event with our key partner Kaleidoscope to highlight the opportunities offered through this joint programme.
“We firmly believe in increasing the representation of those with disabilities in the financial advice profession and with Kaleidoscope as a partner we have been making strides to have an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.
"SJP’s fully funded programme provides unparalleled support and training to empower new advisers, equipping would-be advisers with the qualifications and skills necessary for a successful career in financial advice. A key goal of our SJP Financial Adviser Academy is to be an ‘Academy for All’ and we are committed to providing a welcoming home for talented advisers, regardless of background or circumstance and whatever challenges they may face, in an accessible and inclusive environment. This In turn will bring better outcomes for clients. “
Hardeep Rai, co-founder and CEO of the Kaleidoscope Group, said: “I am very encouraged by our partnership with SJP. Their 12-month training programme is a fantastic blend of theoretical learnings and practical human experiential teachings with real attention to detail. And I’ve been greatly encouraged by SJP’s genuine desire to continue to learn and evolve their approach to make it even more accessible than it already is.
"We all need to play our part in helping to change how we view both financial advice and the role of those with disabilities within it, because, ultimately, how we manage our money and where we place it, is important, particularly for the disabled community. This is a genuine career choice for people with certain types of disabilities or long-term health conditions who might be looking for a new opportunity. This role will offer autonomy, flexibility, independence, and a qualification, together with a strong ability to do well financially."
• Potential attendees need to register In advance for full details and information about the event.