AWD Chase de Vere prepares for first Adviser Academy intake

AWD Chase de Vere will next week welcome the first batch of recruits to its Adviser Academy, aiming to turn them into independent financial advisers (IFA) within two years.

The national advisory firm launched the academy earlier this year, intending to develop talent from within and outside the company and bolster its IFA numbers around the country.

Following an application and assessment process, 12 recruits have been selected, three of whom are from within AWD, with four coming from outside financial services.

Although they will be spread across the country, the recruits will initially attend a three week induction course in Bath from 4 July.

Once based in their respective offices, they will shadow senior financial advisers and observe their client meetings, while also working among existing paraplanners to help prepare and write client reports.

They will also spend one day a week focusing on studying to achieve professional qualifications and are required to achieve Level 4 standards within two years.

Patrick Connolly, head of communications at AWD Chase de Vere, said: "The external recruits have a broad range of experience, from a recent university graduate at one end to others with considerable experience of the financial services or other industries at the other.

"We are planning another intake of recruits in 2012 and see the Adviser Academy as an integral part of our recruitment process over the months and year ahead."