Financial Services Skills Council trying hard to attract school children into financial services

Considering the rising redundancies and battered reputations of Scottish banks it's difficult to envisage a time when financial services north of the border is likely to face a skills-shortage again. However, with one eye on the future, the Financial Services Skills Council (FSSC) is targeting schools in an attempt to develop a pipeline of talent.

The FSSC is rolling out its Directions website - aimed at careers advisors, teachers, students and anyone with a passing interest in pursuing a career in finance - for Scotland. It outlines the various jobs on offer in the sector - be they in retail banking, fund management or accountancy - with tips on how get in.

FSSC chief executive Teresa Sayers, says now more than ever the sector needs a profile boost: "These are significant industries that will still need to invest in the skills of staff for the future."

It's part of a wider education initiative to bring financial services to schools - the Financial Education Partnership - says Alan Thornburrow, chief executive of Scottish Investment Operations.

"The industry has such a bruised reputation we have to look at how to rebuild that," he says. "Financial services hasn't been pushed enough as a career option in schools anyway, and in many ways it's a bit too late to raise its profile to final year university students. While demand for staff is down in the short-term, we have to hope the work we put in now pays dividends further down the track."

Another supporter of the venture is fund manager Baillie Gifford. Stephen Leach, head of HR at the firm, says it's been working with the FSSC to encourage entry level applications for years as well as "broaden the understanding of the different types of roles available and skills required".