A national wealth management specialist with a century of heritage on Tyneside is upskilling its workforce by investing in apprenticeships for the first time.
Brewin Dolphin is a progressive, fast-growing national company that has a network of 28 offices around the UK, Channel Islands and Ireland. Recently the company struck a £28 million deal to acquire Duncan Lawrie Asset Management (DLAM) to take group funds under management to more than £36bn.
Brewin Dolphin is now looking to develop a pipeline of new skills that can support the expansion of the business in the region. The company has formed a partnership with leading training provider Gateshead College to hire three business administration apprentices, who will embark on a two-year training programme designed to equip them with a wide range of skills needed to forge a career in the industry.
It’s the first foray into the apprenticeships market for Brewin Dolphin and an opportunity that the company is eager to pursue.
Richard Buxton, human resource director at Brewin Dolphin, said: “Brewin Dolphin’s place in the community in the North East is a longstanding part of our heritage and we have a vibrant and talented group of colleagues in our Newcastle office. The apprenticeships are a great way of bringing new skills and fresh ideas into our business. The content of the training has been tailored specifically to our business to support the goals and growth plans of our Newcastle office. This will help us as we look to consolidate our position as the leading investment and wealth management specialist in the North East.
Robert Irving, head of Newcastle business support, continues: “Our first three apprentices, James Capstick, Jerome Hardy and Matthew Tulip, will undergo on-the-job training at Brewin Dolphin’s Newcastle office in the business support function, where they will gain a sound understanding of the business and develop specific competencies in finance operations, IT, admin and the financial services regulatory environment. They will also benefit from a mentoring scheme to assist them through their apprenticeship programme.
Robert also noted that “the partnership with Gateshead College has been an effective one, and we’re already working with the team to add to our apprenticeship resource by recruiting four more apprentices in April.”
Gateshead College has a 60-year track record of sourcing high-calibre apprentices for large companies and SMEs across the North East. Rated outstanding’ by Ofsted, the college is leading the way in education and skills by providing industry with the skilled workforces it needs now and in the future.
Ivan Jepson, director of business development at Gateshead College, said: “We are thrilled to be working with such a prestigious national company as Brewin Dolphin that has had roots in the North East business community for more than 100 years. Our aim is to help Brewin Dolphin build a professional, skilled workforce through bespoke apprenticeships and provide a training solution that ensures they see the best possible return on their investment, and which offers real career progression opportunities for the individual apprentices.”
Brewin Dolphin’s Newcastle office now offers an extensive range of investment management advice spanning portfolio creation, ISAs and other tax-efficient investments, charity fund management, pensions and inheritance tax. A highly qualified and experienced financial planning team also helps clients develop a sound strategy for managing their financial affairs and safeguarding their long-term wealth.
