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22 June 2011

Perspective Financial Group Ltd, the Wilmslow-based IFA group, has today (22nd June 2011) announced a new relationship with Bradford University School of Management to provide students of its Financial Planning Degree with internship and placement opportunities. Launched in 2010, the BSc (Hons) in Financial Planning is a four-year programme designed to develop students? understanding of the theory and practice of financial planning, including regulation and ethics in the financial services sector. The degree was developed in collaboration with financial advisers to address the knowledge and skills needs of the sector and is exempt from five of the six units of the CII Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning. The first year of the course is focused on General Business Management before students begin studying their specific Financial Planning modules from the second year onwards. Students take a full year-long placement at an IFA firm in their third year before returning to study and complete their degree in the following year. As part of this new relationship, Perspective is developing internship and placement opportunities for undergraduates. The first internship has now been filled with a student having started a three-month internship at Perspective Group firm, Harrogate Financial Solutions. Julie Hepworth, Group Regulatory Manager at Perspective Financial Group Ltd, and alumni of the University of Bradford, commented: ?How we bring new, highly-qualified graduates into financial planning has always been something of a conundrum and it is particularly pleasing to see institutions like the University of Bradford offering vocational opportunities to individuals via its Financial Planning Degree. It not only offers a degree-level qualification but also provides practical experience taking students a considerable way towards their CII Diploma qualification. At Perspective we recognise not only the need to bring new talent into the industry but also the importance of exceeding the Level 4 qualification benchmark in order to be employable post-RDR. The students currently on the course will be looking for jobs in the new environment and we are delighted to offer them much-needed practical experience through internships and placements with Perspective Group firms. Our relationship with the School of Management has already provided an opportunity for one undergraduate and our staff at Harrogate Financial Solutions are looking forward to having a Financial Planning Degree student working with them over the summer. We are currently working with the course tutors and other Group firms in order to offer further placements to students and believe in the years ahead we will be able to offer undergraduates a progressive, forward-thinking working environment to complement their studies.? Dr Musa Mangena, Director of Studies BSc Financial Planning and Senior Lecturer in Accounting at Bradford University School of Management , said: ?This is exactly the kind of work placement that our students need to ensure they have the right skills and experience for future employment. Perspective is to be congratulated on embracing this opportunity to help train bright young talent for the industry. It is also encouraging to us as a management school to see businesses getting involved in supporting our students and the degree programme. We are looking forward to working with more businesses in the sector in developing the right skills and experience young people need to be employable.? For more information on Perspective Financial Group Ltd, visit: www.pfgl.co.uk For more information on the Bradford University Financial Planning Degree, visit: www.brad.ac.uk/management/programmes/undergraduate/ugfp/ ENDS

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