A NEW graduate apprenticeship scheme will attempt to answer the need for more talent in Scotland’s financial services sector.
Heriot-Watt University has announced a new collaboration with partner J.P. Morgan with the recruitment of graduate apprentices (GAs) onto the Business Management for Financial Services programme.
The GAs initiative will attempt to combine work-based and academic learning to create degree-qualified employees with industry skills.
Successful candidates the GA positions at J.P. Morgan will have the opportunity to work at the bank to attempt to acquire practical skills and knowledge in preparation for entering the sector.
The candidates will also study modules in financial services through the programmes and upon completing their coursework, they will be awarded a degree from Heriot-Watt University.
Scotland’s financial sector is the biggest sectoral contributor to the Scottish economy based on Gross Value Added employing around 135,000 people.
Despite the continual growth of the sector, recent statistics published in the Skills Action Plan by Scottish Financial Enterprise indicate that the industry is facing a growing demand for skills but a shrinking supply of talent.
Change in the industry is also leading to a rising demand for new skills such as data science and software development.
Professor Gillian Murray, deputy principal for Business and Enterprise at Heriot-Watt University, said: “Our collaboration with J.P. Morgan exemplifies our strategy to align education with industry needs.
“These new Graduate Apprenticeship positions will contribute significantly to mitigating the skills gap in Scotland’s financial services industry, offering a direct pathway for students into highly skilled and in-demand roles.”
Lynne Lockier, Emerging Talent vice president at J.P. Morgan, said: “Our new partnership with Heriot-Watt University Graduate Apprenticeships will directly answer the urgent call for generating new talent for Scotland’s financial services sector.
“By fostering a close relationship between students’ learning and their work, we’re not only preparing them for the challenges of today but also for the challenges of today but also for the innovations of tomorrow.”
