St James’s Place has launched a masters degree in wealth management alongside Loughborough University’s School of Business and Economics, adding to those institutions rolling out programmes to boost industry talent.

St James’s Place has launched a masters degree in wealth management alongside Loughborough University’s School of Business and Economics, adding to those institutions rolling out programmes to boost in-house industry talent.

The MSc in Wealth Management will be available exclusively for St James’s Place employees and partners providing a level 7 qualification, the UK-based wealth manager said in a statement yesterday.

The move is an example of how some wealth management firms, realising there is a need to build a talent pipeline at a time of rising regulatory challenges and clients’ demands, are developing such programmes. This approach is also seen as more suitable than poaching experienced, and hence more expensive, staff from rivals. Banks such as Credit Suisse, UBS and BNP Paribas among others have developed courses alongside universities and business schools in recent years. To view a roundup of such courses, see here.

Loughborough has worked with key members of the St James’s Place management and technical teams to create a series of modules, tailored to suit employees and partners of the firm, which can be practically applied to their roles.

The programme will aim to encourage participants to develop learning and skills across a large range of management disciplines, including marketing of financial services, strategic management of business and generating customer loyalty.