Scottish Investment Operations

16.09.11

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 13:06:27 +0100

SIO Launches iPhone App

We are delighted to launch SIO's My Career Path App on the Apple App Store today. The App is available on iPhone, iTouch and iPad from the following link: http://itunes.apple.com/app/my-career-path/id447381063?mt=8

You�ll never make a more important decision than choosing what you want to do for a living. You can take advice from careers advisers, parents and friends but ultimately it�s down to you.

If you�re still undecided, My Career Path can help you make up your mind. It�s an innovative App that uses unique, psychometric techniques to show where your strengths and desires lie.

All you have to do is to answer a series of simple questions.

On the face of it, they might appear to have nothing to do with work but actually, they�re expertly designed to reveal your true professional abilities and motivations. If you�re suited to working in financial services, My Career Path will tell you.

It can then put you in touch with people who can help you land your dream job. If you�re not suited to the industry, it could save you the time and effort of finding out the hard way.

26.08.11

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 15:34:32 +0100

Investment Accounting Diploma goes global!

Following continued success, the Diploma in Investment Accounting offered by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland and the Chartered Banker Institute is being offered on a global basis. The Diploma provides candidates with a comprehensive understanding of accounting fundamentals through to finance and specialist knowledge of the investment accounting process.

The Diploma will be offered in a distance learning format fully supported by an online platform which links students to tutors and provides a forum for community learning. The Diploma has been supported by a wide range of major investment companies including Baillie Gifford, BlackRock, BNP Paribas, Citi, HSBC, J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Standard Life Investments, State Street and others.

To further information and to register head to: http://www.investmentaccounting.org.uk/Home.aspx

14.02.10

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 22:55:01 +0000

Register now for the next Diploma in Investment Accounting course

We are still enrolling for the next Diploma in Investment Accounting course which starts on February 27th in Edinburgh. To find out more head to www.investmentaccounting.org.uk where you can download the syllabus, training dates and register online.

09.12.10

Thu, 9 Dec 2010 09:55:16 +0000

Next SIO Course Open for Business!

Following two successful intakes of our Introduction to Investment Operations course in June and September of this year, we are now delighted to open the application process for our next course. Delegates at the last two courses learned all about our business and had the chance to meet with leading employers who are recruiting. I'm delighted to see many of them now working in the industry with employers such as Barclays Capital, FNZ and Morgan Stanley among others.

The dates of our next course are: 3rd and 4th and 7th to 11th of March 2011. Please apply by 18th February to be considered. At that point all applications will be assessed and winners will be selected and notified.

To find out more and apply online head to our training page for full details. Don't miss a great chance to learn about a key sector and get a headstart on a job!

Scottish Financial Education Initiative Gets Backing from EC

Fri, 1 Oct 2010 10:52:44 +0100

The Financial Education Partnership (FEP), the pioneering, industry-led initiative to promote financial capability in schools, managed by The Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland, has received the backing of the European Commission for its work to improve the financial knowledge and skills of young people.

SIO supports the FEP in a number of ways including delivering workshops in schools and sitting on its sub-committee to shape the modules that focus on careers information and employability skills.

Working with partners in nine European countries, with financial support from the European Commission�s �Comenius� programme, a new European Financial Education Partnership (EFEP) is to be created to deliver interactive financial education workshops to secondary school children through a volunteer network of financial services practitioners. A major programme of work over a 2-year period beginning in September 2010 will include:

Bringing together key financial education stakeholders, including parents' groups, in each country
Involving financial services practitioners and others in the development and delivery of financial education materials and workshops for teachers and students; and
Sharing best practice between financial education providers in each country/region, and at a European level through the involvement of the European Bank Training Network.

The FEP Director, Giles Cuthbert, commented: �Since its inception 12 years ago the FEP has helped roughly 173,000 schoolchildren in Scotland develop their financial skills in preparation for real life, at no cost to schools. The FEP has pioneered financial education in the UK and is one of the reasons Scotland is seen as a role model for other European countries in this regard.�

Michael Russell, MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning said �Ensuring that our young people have a strong understanding of financial and money management skills is critical � particularly in the current economic climate. This initiative is a welcome addition to the good work already being done in Scottish schools.�

29.06.10

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 20:33:09 +0100

Applications for SIO Introduction to Investment Operations course in September now open

Following a very successful first intake of our Introduction to Investment Operations course in June, we are now delighted to open the application process for our September course. Delegates in June learned all about our business and had the chance to meet with leading employers who are recruiting. Some have since progressed to interview stage!

The dates of our next course are: 9th and 10th and the 13th to the 17th of September in Edinburgh.

To find out more and apply online head to our training page for full details.

17.05.10

Mon, 17 May 2010 11:27:16 +0100

SIO offers the opportunity to launch investment careers

Scotland�s investment industry trade body, Scottish Investment Operations (SIO), is re-launching the course �Introduction to Investment Operations� as the job market shows signs of recovery and Scotland�s shines as an important international investment centre. Job seekers interested in pursuing a career in Scotland�s growing investment sector, are being offered the opportunity to win one of the 40 free places, worth �900 each, available on this industry course, which will give access to leading recruiters.

While there are no guarantees for jobs at the end of the course, two-thirds of candidates have found jobs within the investment industry afterwards. Among the companies seeking to recruit through the programme are SIO member companies, Morgan Stanley, BlackRock and Barclays Wealth. Over recent months investment firms have started increasing recruitment activities due to the continuing emergence of Scotland as an important international investment centre.

The course, previously offered between 2003 and 2008, is a route into industry and is funded by Skills Development Scotland. The seven-day course, which will take place in two intakes in June and September in Edinburgh and Glasgow, will give delegates a broad understanding of the investment operations business to improve their job chances and provide direct access to leading recruiters in the sector. As part of the intensive course, attendees are given access to recruiters through informal networking and social activities, including a lunch. Performance is also monitored through a a formal end of course assessment to a more fun fantasy share trading competition.

Funded places will be available to those not currently employed or in full-time training. Those places will be awarded on a competitive basis and applications will be sought from school and college leavers, graduates, career changers and those who have been made redundant.

Alan Thornburrow, CEO, SIO said: �The course offers talented individuals a real opportunity to shine. With the spotlight on the job prospects of graduates this summer, we expect lots of interest in the course as it as proved itself to be very popular and a good door opener to longer-term career opportunities in this growing sector. �The course offers a highly effective way of firms to recruit staff. Firms will be involved in assessing the candidates for entry onto the course, providing effective pre-screening. While the roles will be entry-level positions, these jobs can lead to roles as accountants, analysts and in settlements. �

Ian Hanson, Strategic Relations Manager, Financial and Business Services, Skills Development Scotland, said: �I welcome and fully support the aims of this course. Investment operations employers in Scotland have voiced a need for an entry level course, which will give more people the opportunity to pursue a career in this sector.

�The funding provided by Skills Development Scotland will sponsor a number of course entrants over 2010-11. Financial and Business Services is a Scottish Government key sector, vital for Scotland�s economy. We support this industry�s future workforce by providing flexible access to professional training.�

To find out more and apply online, please go to training. Closing date for the first course is 31^st May 2010. Candidates will be asked questions about why they want to do the course and competency based questions around qualities, such as team work. Notes to editors:

1. The course will give successful applicants an opportunity to understand an overview of how the financial services industry works and prepares delegates to sit the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) stage 1 of the Investment Administration Qualification (IAQ) examinations, as well as providing a theoretical and practical understanding of the various investment operations functions.

2. The first intake will be from 15-25 June in Glasgow and the second will be from 9-17 September in Edinburgh.

3. The course is open to UK residents. The course is fully funded but candidates will need to pay for their accommodation and expenses.

For media enquiries, please contact Sarah Evans-Toyne and Tania Vie Riba at Broadgate Mainland on 020 7726 6111 (sio@broadgatemainland.com)

About SIO

Scottish Investment Operations (SIO) is a professional body working on behalf of the Scottish investment industry. We partner with our member companies to promote the industry and develop skills and qualifications. SIO�s web site: http://www.sio.org.uk In partnership with The Chartered Institute of Bankers Scotland, The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, SIO has introduced the first Diploma in Investment Accounting. Extensive consultation with the investment industry�s largest employers has shaped the qualification that will address a commonly reported skills gap - the absence of qualifications for new and experienced investment and fund accountants. The diploma will help to grow, develop and retain talent in the fund accounting area. http://www.investmentaccounting.org.uk/Home.aspx

07.04.10

Wed, 7 Apr 2010 16:07:20 +0100

SIO Re-Launches Funded Training Scheme

SIO is pleased to announce the re-launch of its successful Introduction to Investment Operations course this summer. The course teaches job-seekers the essentials of our business and links them up with employers in the industry to progress towards interviews and jobs. Funded places will be available to those not currently employed or in full-time training. Those places will be awarded on a competitive basis and applications will be sought from school and college leavers, graduates, career changes and those who have been made redundant. All applications will be made via the SIO website. Full details on dates, how to apply and more will be posted here shortly.

17.12.09

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:43:51 +0000

SIO and FSSC Collaborate on Employability

We have been working closely with the Financial Services Skills Council to research employability within the financial services sector. By employability we mean the skills, attitudes and behaviours that make new entrants highly sought after and able to make a positive impact on their company soon after joining.

We began group workshops in September and October followed by one-to-one meetings during November and December. So far we have gathered views from a wide group of employers right across the financial services sector. The next stage of our research will begin early next year with schools and universities to understand their views of what skills and behaviours are in demand within our business. We'll be speaking directly to young people in focus groups to hear what they think.

We expect to produce a final report in Spring next year which will be widely distributed to all stakeholders.

30.10.09

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:41:41 +0000

SIO wins big at Innovators Awards

SIO was delighted to win the Innovation in Education award at last night's SFE Innovators Awards dinner for its work on developing a Diploma in Investment Accounting. We faced stiff competition from Heriot Watt University and the Open University who both had great entries.

The Diploma has been built by employers, for employers in close collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland. It will provide candidates with an end-to-end understanding of investment accounting and will help employers to continue to attract and retain talent in this important area of our industry.