Tag: Growing Future Assets Competition

Future Asset competition encourages schoolgirls across Scotland to tackle gender disparity in financial services

Now in its fifth year, the Growing Future Assets Investment Competition challenges 13-18-year-old schoolgirls in Scotland to become investment whiz kids by identifying and pitching a company with great investment potential.

Teenage girls in Scotland can register for the competition now and are in with a chance to win prizes of up to £1000 for their school and up to £200 in vouchers per student.

Until recently, there were more men named Dave working as UK fund managers than women in total. Today, only 12% of UK fund managers are women. Future Asset aims to close the gender gap in this sector, empowering teenage girls across the country by teaching them the skills they need to consider a career in investment management.

Scotland is the 2nd largest financial hub in the UK after London, yet a poll commissioned by Scottish Financial Enterprise found that almost 60% of 16-24-year-olds were unlikely to consider a career in financial services, while just under a quarter (23%) of people in Scotland do not believe financial services represents an attractive or secure career for young people.

Another study reveals that many women lack confidence around investing, with one quarter stating that they don’t know what to invest in, and 19% saying they don’t know how to invest.

However, there is clear evidence the sector would benefit from eliminating gender disparity. Analysis by Fidelity Investments found that on average women’s holding outperformed men’s annually by 0.40 percentage points.

Spaces in the competition are in high demand both in and outside the central belt. 110 teams competed last year from 30 out of 32 council areas of Scotland. Since inception in 2020, over 1800 students across the country have taken part.

Successful applicants will take part in a “Dragons’ Den” style competition over 10 weeks, which allows them to experience the role of an investment manager.

Competing teams each work with a professional “Competition Coach” – volunteer investment professionals from leading firms such as Martin Currie, Baillie Gifford and Stewart Investors who coach teams online and in person – to learn how to pitch a company with great investment potential.

Jen Mair, Chair of Future Asset and CEO of Martin Currie Investment Management, said: “Careers in finance can be rewarding, creative and lucrative, and we remain committed to eliminating gender disparity in this sector so that anyone can consider working in investment.

“In the last half-decade, it has been inspiring and encouraging to see girls from every corner of the country take advantage of the competition and the resources we have to offer, and we look forward to seeing them enjoy successful careers in the industry It’s clear that diversifying the financial workforce brings many benefits for all, and while there is still much work to be done,

“I believe the future of the investment sector looks very bright.”

Registration for the competition closes on 6 September 2024.

Competition Kick Off  workshops take place in August and September in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and Inverness, and the competition deadline is on Friday 29 November 2024, with winners announced on Friday 07 March.

Local schools in contest to find new generation of investors

Girls from eleven Edinburgh and East Lothian schools are battling it out with rivals from across Scotland in a contest to prove they can be the next stars of the investment industry. 

The students are among over 70 teams from 48 schools taking part in the Growing Future Assets Competition, designed to nurture a future generation of female investment experts. 

The contest, which aims to introduce senior girls to the world of investment and its range of careers, sees the teenagers vying to spot the next big investment opportunity.  And it has ignited fierce competition this year with entries up by 300%.

 Those taking part include teams from: Balerno Community, Craigmount, Craigroyston Community, Holy Rood RC and Forrester High Schools plus independent schools George Heriots, George Watson’s College, Edinburgh and Loretto School in Musselburgh; Knox Academy, Haddington and North Berwick and Preston Lodge High Schools in East Lothian. 

The soaring popularity of the contest is down to the enthusiasm of the teenagers, willingness of teachers to embrace extra-curricular activities and outstanding support from investment management professionals who are helping to mentor the schoolgirls. 

Financial educators Future Asset are challenging a total of 320 girls, divided into teams of 13-18-year-olds to research, analyse and pitch a company they think will be a great long-term investment. 

The youngsters are paired with a mentor from an investment company to provide advice, inspiration and career insights and have the chance to attend online masterclasses as they develop an understanding that good investing focuses on a company’s long-term prospects, profits and sustainability.

This year more than 80 investment mentors from 28 firms have stepped up to counsel the young women. 

Ashley-Jane Kyle, CFA, Investment Analyst at Walter Scott & Partners Limited and Investment Mentor for the competition says: “Not only have I thoroughly enjoyed being an Investment Mentor as part of the competition, but I have also been so impressed with the students’ enthusiasm and effort put in to their investment reports and pitches.

“I think this is a great way to break the barrier that often puts girls off from considering investment management as a career as it allows them to experience in quite a real way what it’s like to research and invest in businesses. It also gives them an opportunity to develop valuable skills which they will be able to use throughout their careers.” 

Experts from journalism and business are also advising the teenagers: Executive and Voice Coach Susan Room is helping to boost their skills and confidence with online masterclasses in Mindset, Body Language, Speech and Voice, while author, broadcaster and financial journalist Iona Bain, who launched the contest in September, is on hand to explain how they can invest their way to a better future. 

Now in its third year, the competition features a senior contest for years S5 and S6 and a junior challenge for S3 and S4.  The teams of three to six girls will present their case in a research report and three-minute elevator pitch by November 30. The top teams will then deliver an extended pitch to judges at the final in March next year. 

At stake is: £1000 for the winning senior school and £200-worth of vouchers of the students’ choice for each team member; £800 for the best junior school and £150-worth of vouchers each.  Senior and junior runners-up receive £500 and £100 of vouchers and £400 and £75 of vouchers, respectively. 

Helen Bradley, Future Asset programme manager, says: “We are overwhelmed by the enthusiasm shown by the schools, the teachers and all the investment experts who have come forward to mentor the teams. 

“We weren’t sure what the response would be from schools then at the beginning of September, when the competition launched, we just watched in amazement at the huge influx of registrations. We put out a call for additional mentors and that was answered enthusiastically by experts already in the industry. 

“We’re also hugely impressed by the commitment shown by teachers who have really responded to this extra-curricular opportunity for their students – especially when they have already faced such a difficult period and increase in their own workload over the last 18 months.” 

Future Asset believes that being female should never be seen as a barrier to progressing in a chosen career.  

Their goal is to enable girls in the senior phase of high school to learn how investment can change the world for the better, gain valuable, transferable skills and consider the benefits of possible future careers.

They organise conferences and workshops for girls across Scotland.

For more information visit https://www.futureasset.org.uk/ 

Competition to put girls at core of new generation of investors

Future Asset aims to boost number of women in investment management 

An educational initiative encouraging schoolgirls to become the next generation of investment experts gets out of the starting blocks next month.   

This year’s Growing Future Assets Competition, which aims to introduce senior girls to the world of investment, its impact and range of careers, begins on 6 September when teenagers from all over Scotland will vie to spot the next big investment opportunity.  

Financial educators Future Asset are challenging teams of 14-18-year-olds to research, analyse and pitch a company they think will be a great long-term investment.  

They will be paired with a mentor from an investment management company who will provide advice, inspiration and career insights, and have the chance to attend online masterclasses as they develop an understanding that good investing focuses on a company’s long-term prospects, profits and sustainability.  

They will also be advised by Executive and Voice Coach Susan Room, to help them feel, look and sound more confident and hear from author, broadcaster and financial journalist Iona Bain on how the younger generation can invest their way to a better future.  

At the same time they’ll hone transferable skills including research, analysis, communication, numeracy, working with others and presentation skills.     

Now in its second year, the competition is divided into a senior contest for years S5 and S6 and a junior challenge for S3 and S4.

The teams of three to six girls will present their case in a research report and three-minute elevator pitch by 30 November. The top teams will then deliver an extended pitch to judges at the final in March next year.  

At stake is: £1,000 for the winning senior team and £200-worth of vouchers of the students’ choice for each team member; £800 for the best junior team and £150-worth of vouchers each.  Senior and junior runners-up will also receive prizes for the school and team members.   

Helen Bradley, Future Asset programme manager, says: “Winning is wonderful but the real bonus of this sort of initiative is the wealth of additional skills and experience that it gives these young women and the window it opens onto a career they may never have considered.  

“Earlier this year an investment research firm reported that more UK investment funds were run by men called Dave or David than by female managers! Future Asset is aiming to change that and this competition is a tremendous opportunity to open up a new era in female-led investment.  

“We’re also very much aware that face-to-face work experience has been off the agenda for the last 18 months so we see this as a valuable chance to bring the world of work into school in a novel way.”  

Future Asset believes that being female should never be seen as a barrier to progressing in a chosen career. Their goal is to enable girls in the senior phase of high school to learn how investment can change the world for the better, gain valuable, transferable skills and consider the benefits of possible future careers. They organise conferences and workshops for girls across Scotland.

For more information visit https://www.futureasset.org.uk/   

Future Asset is sponsored by Baillie Gifford, Stewart Investors and Walter Scott and Partners. They are also backed by Member firms who provide volunteers and mentors, supporting the programme to engage and enthuse girls and increase gender diversity in investment management.  

Local High Schools are finalists in Growing Future Assets Investment Competition

Girls from Craigmount High School and The Royal High School have beaten off stiff competition and made it to the final of the Growing Future Assets Competition.

Pitching their chosen companies L’Occitane & ASOS, the girls demonstrated determination, resilience and ingenuity when presenting their chosen business as a viable and recommended investment opportunity.

The Growing Future Assets Competition introduces senior schoolgirls across Scotland to the world of investment, its operation, relevance and impact as well as the range of careers available within the sector. It supports them towards developing an understanding that good investing is about the long-term prospects, profits and sustainability of a company.

Deputy First Minister, John Swinney, said: “The Future Asset Competition is an exciting opportunity for girls across the country to access professional information and advice about careers in investment, a sector where women are under-represented.

The process offers competitors the opportunity to enhance and develop their employability, financial, data analysis and presentation skills in a creative and real-life context, and I wish all those taking part this year the best of luck.”

Rob Woodward, Chair of the Developing the Young Workforce Employers’ Forum comments: “As Chair of the DYW National Employers’ Group I wish all participants in this competition the very best of luck. 

Learning the benefits of investment and helping companies to thrive sits at the heart of good business.  Given the current COVID-19 crisis the skills being judged will be at the heart of the business response to rebuilding the economy and creating future job opportunities.”

Tom Rae, Head Teacher, Craigmount High School comments: “Competitions like this are a really important way of preparing young people for the world of work, a key element now in all school curriculum structures.

“As well as promoting awareness of dispositions and skills, the  project also serves the purpose of advancing gender equality. Most importantly, I can see from the student feedback comments that they have all really enjoyed the experience – this is crucial, as learning should also be enjoyable, challenging, and change young peoples’ understanding of the world of work.”

Pauline Walker, Headteacher, The Royal High School comments: “The Future Asset competition has given our pupils the opportunity to excel at a time when everything that was familiar to them was stopping around them both in their school and globally. Despite the difficulties they showed resilience and determination to complete the project and to a very high standard.

“They worked collectively to produce a very high standard of work and used all the advice and support provided to them through the project leaders and their teacher Ms Collins.

“We are extremely proud of what they achieved and really look forward to seeing them complete in the final. They demonstrated what is very best about young people today and are growing and developing skills for life and work beyond school.”

Each of the participating teams were matched with investment mentors volunteering from investment companies who could provide advice and guidance, before presenting their conclusions in research reports and elevator pitch videos.

The teams had to complete their pitches during lockdown, showing great determination, resilience and ingenuity. The judging panel of investment professionals, who were extremely impressed by the high standard of entries, selected only four teams to take part in the online competition final via Zoom calls on 8 and 9 June 2020.  

Mentor for The Royal High School, Edinburgh, pitching ASOS, Louise MacDonald, Head of Compliance, Cameron Hume Limited comments: “To reach the final of The Future Asset Competition is a fantastic achievement for The Royal High School team , and very well deserved !

“To create and deliver a presentation of the highest quality, in the difficult environment we find ourselves in at the moment, is a real credit to the team. The approach the girls took to the competition was excellent; they were inquisitive, analytical and eager to learn and understand key concepts of the investment world.

“Above all else, they showed a willingness for teamwork, and truly listened to each other (and their mentors!) , which showed in the strength of their presentation. I wish them all the very best for the final.”

Mentor for Craigmount High School, Edinburgh, pitching L’Occitane, Danielle Dunlop, Investor Access Co-ordinator, Baillie Gifford & Co comments: “The girls at Craigmount have done a fantastic job in reaching the finals. 

“Their ability to grasp important investment principles and present a thoughtful and interesting pitch is highly impressive. I can see great potential for a future in investment.”

The winning team will receive £1000 for their school and £200 for each of the team members in vouchers of their choice, with the runner up receiving £500 for the school and £100 of vouchers for each team member.

Future Asset believes that being female should never be seen as a barrier to progressing in a chosen career.  Their goal is to enable girls in the senior phase of high school to learn how investment can change the world for the better, gain valuable, transferable skills and consider the benefits of possible future careers.

They organise conferences and workshops for girls across Scotland.

For more information visit https://www.futureasset.org.uk/