Aifa to build up graduate recruitment

Aifa is looking to start a graduate incentive programme in order to encourage more IFAs to hire young people.

Paul Smee, director general of Aifa, said that the association along with the society for financial advisers will be conducting research into why more IFAs are not using graduates to build their businesses.

He said: "There are not enough young people joining the profession so we will work on analysing why intermediaries do not think graduates would be well placed within their business. Attitudes towards recruiting may be slightly outdated."

Smee also told delegates at the conference that it is working closely with IFAP on a number of projects in order to build up the promotion of the IFA community.

The past year, he said, Aifa has built up a number of close relationships within the financial industry, including the ABI, FSA and other IFA bodies.

The association plans to continue its work with product providers on projects such as the standardisation of terms of business, however, it will maintain its independence as a trade association, Smee said.