UK wealth manager St James’s Place (SJP) has unveiled a military network to support the armed forces community.
It will also help those who are leaving, or have left the military, and their families transition into a career in financial services.
SJP’s military network already has over 100 ex-military personnel and reservists, cadet instructors and spouses across the firm.
Initial work will include hosting insight days and events, as well as establishing a dedicated LinkedIn page to enable collaboration.
This latest move forms part of SJP’s commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, signed in October, to support the community and ensure they are not disadvantaged in society.
The commitment also involves:
- Working with the career transition partnership and associated charities to ensure employment opportunities within SJP and re-training opportunities for ex-service people through the SJP academy;
- Supporting the employment of service spouses and partners through advertising vacancies and offering flexibility for service spouses and partners before, during and after a partner’s deployment;
- Supporting employees who choose to be members of the reserve forces and accommodating their training and deployment;
- Offering support to local cadet units and service charities through the SJP charitable foundation;
- Being a member of the City Veterans CIC, bringing together companies to share best practice on employing ex-service personnel and reservists; and
- Actively encourage and supporting the partnership to volunteer their time with financial guidance initiatives.
Help with journey
Andy Mallows, director of operations for the managing director at SJP, said: “We’re delighted to have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and proud to be launching our own military network to build on our support for the armed forces.
“The journey from the forces into the workplace can be quite daunting, so we’ve aimed to create a network that truly understands what these candidates are experiencing, first-hand.
“Whilst we’ve been supporting the forces through our academy programme for a long time, the collaborative approach by the military network will accelerate this even further.”
Louise Worrall, academy partner at SJP, added: “I approached the programme following the deterioration of my health resulting in me leaving my much-desired job as a navigator in the Royal Navy.
“I was a little lost and, having had no previous experience, I didn’t know what to expect. Since the first encounter the academy has supported and nurtured me on what has been a tricky journey due to my health.
“Their willingness to adapt my learning and facilitate ways for me to still achieve my goals around hospital visits and time off has been incredible. This support is only displayed further with the network being launched today.”
