Kick-start your investment career with The Skills Workshop
Interested in a career in investment and savings but not sure how to apply or what knowledge is needed?
Our free, virtual workshops across June – October 2023 will help you build your awareness of the investment industry, increase your financial literacy and make you feel application ready. You’ll also have the opportunity to network with your cohort and industry professionals.
What is The Skills Workshop?
A detailed programme of virtual workshops designed by industry professionals to provide the insight, knowledge and direction needed to pursue a career in the investment industry. Its goal is to tackle underrepresentation across the industry and increase social mobility – by addressing the intersectionality between ethnicity, gender, social mobility and other dimensions of diversity. Open to all, last year over 7,500 people took part.
Who can sign up?
- All educational routes welcome (college/university, all disciplines and subjects welcome)
- All predicted grades welcome
- All age groups welcome (from 18+)
- Not looking for an internship or a role right now? Come along anyway and learn about what we do. There is no application form or assessment criteria
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Workshops on understanding the Investment and Savings Industry
Join us to gain the clarity you need to understand the industry and the variety of roles available. This context will be invaluable as you navigate interview and assessment centres.
Understand the differences between investment management and investment banking; asset classes; and the latest trends and challenges facing the industry.
Put your best self forward with tips and tricks to combat any doubts, as well as having good conversation topics for interviews.
How the industry works and how to apply for a job. Sign up below!
Thursday 8th June 2023 | 6-7pm
What is Asset Management and why is it important?
What is the purpose of the asset management industry? Why is it important and how does it differ from Investment Banking? We’ll also explore the types of clients and their decision making process when setting investment strategy and making investment allocations. Learn about role functions and roles available. We’re also on hand to answer your live Q&A.
Thursday 22nd June 2023 | 6-7pm
Trends in Asset Management
This session will explain current trends in the industry, and help you articulate contextual motivations for pursuing a career in asset management. Topics include ESG, FinTech, passive vs active management, and the need for greater diversity, finishing with a Q&A.
Thursday 29th June 2023 | 6-7pm
Introduction to Asset Classes
This session will provide an overview of the different types of asset classes, what is unique about each type, and how they might be used to deliver investment solutions.
Live Q&A session.
Thursday 13th July 2023 | 6pm-7:30pm
Finance in practice simulation
Feel the buzz of the trading floor and experience the same simulation used by the world’s largest asset managers, investment banks and hedge funds. This unique experience will allow you to gain role-specific skills and develop your edge in the application process.
Thursday 20th July 2023 | 6-7pm
Skills based career planning
This session will help show you the way to better articulate the skills required to find jobs. We will supply a cheat sheet that helps you to tackle the current disconnect between the skills you have and the way current recruitment systems evaluate them.
With focus on how to make your CV and applications stand out for the right reasons. This workshop will also provide an opportunity to submit your CV for individual review and feedback from our team of financial recruiters.
Wednesday 26th July 2023 | 6-7pm
Transferable Skills – What they are and how to highlight yours in a CV, application and at interview
What is a transferable skill? What skills do you have and how can you best present them? HR professionals from the investment and savings industry and professional recruiters will support you in this interactive session to explain what the industry is looking for and how you can demonstrate you have it! This session follows on from Clu’s Skills based career planning on Thursday 20th July.
GAIN UK specialises in working with future female investors, but all genders are welcome at this CV writing session.
Thursday 27th July 2023 | 6-7pm
Prepping for the interview
When you have applied for the job you would be really good at, you are much more likely to get an interview. This session will give you the confidence to excel at the interview stage. We will provide you with detailed preparation guidance, from navigating when to think about your next step, how to approach it and setting yourself up for success in the process.
Thursday 7th September 2023 | 6pm
The secrets to a successful application and interview
Some people say that applying for a job or internship is like an additional subject at university. Preparing for interviews, attending assessment centres and potentially facing unsuccessful applications – it can take its toll. Come and join us as industry mentors will share their secrets to a successful application and interview.
The Encircle Mentoring team have put together a session to help you thrive through the process – ways for you to be successful and authentic at the interview stage, and dealing with the good, the bad and the ugly side of applications.
Attend our Virtual Careers Fair
This is your opportunity to meet industry professionals and hear about their personal journeys. Increase your understanding about each firm, its working culture and opportunities. Gain valuable insights you need to be successful during interviews and at assessment centres.
One new firm every day, Monday – Thursday, in September and October. Find out where you can thrive!
Insights into Industry stakeholders

Asset Owners: Institutional investors
Institutional investors
We are professional investors who invest money on behalf of other people. We pool their money together to invest in investment assets.
In our diagram, we focus on your most common investors, the pension schemes (defined benefit (DB), local government pension schemes (LGPS) and defined contribution (DC).
Other examples include: insurance companies Charities and endowment funds (e.g. your university’s endowments)
Note that the governance structure and the advice taken and required will differ across investors.
View our virtual careers fairAsset Owners: Retail and Wealth Investors
Retail and Wealth Investors
Retail investors: are private individuals. They trade on their own account, for their own profit (or loss) and not on behalf of financial institutions or other investment organisations. These investors are not deemed to be professional investors. Retail investors are often advised by an IFA (independent financial advisor). Asset managers do not deal directly with retail investors.
Instead, asset managers work with investment platforms who pool assets together from individuals to invest like an institution.
View our virtual careers fairProfessional trustee firms
Professional trustee firms
There are different types of trustees: Individual trustees, Corporate trustees, Member-nominated trustees (MNTs), Employer-nominated trustees (ENTs), Professional trustees and Chair of trustees. We all act impartially and represent the best interest of the beneficiaries of the pension scheme in line with pension regulation and the scheme’s rules.
A Professional trustee, in particular is someone who normally acts in an independent capacity and has longstanding expertise in trustee matters generally. Professional trustee firms work alongside the pension scheme and the consultant to ensure that the execution and implementation is in line with the best interest of the scheme.
View our virtual careers fairAsset Managers
Asset Managers
Also known as investment managers and fund managers. (Although, a fund manager is the job title given to the professional managing the pool of assets). We manage the assets of our clients – institutional and retail investors. We do not manage for individuals directly.
Using the pension scheme example, we help to manage a client’s investment portfolio based on their investment objectives and appetite for risk. We work alongside investment consultants and professional trustee firms to ensure we continuously have the right products for our client’s demands.
View our virtual careers fairConsultants
Consultants
We provide a range of advisory services to asset owners, from funding decisions, to asset allocation, manager selection and reporting processes. We frequently train investors and trustees on approaches to investment and emerging investment trends.
We helps clients formulate and put into place investment strategies and construct and maintain portfolios to ensure that they’re meeting their long term funding goals.
View our virtual careers fairIf you have further questions, please contact us on [email protected].
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Quotes from TSW participants