Research

Our ongoing research supports our core work, helps to shape the debate on skills and influence policy for the UK Financial Services sector.

If you would like to collaborate with us on a research project please contact us.

Collecting Socioeconomic Background Data – Best Practice for Financial Services Firms

September 2022

Insight Paper

Inclusion Measurement Guide (Updated from July 2021)

14 July 2022

Our Inclusion Measurement Guide enables organisations to measure inclusion in three priority areas: analyse the behaviours and actions of employees, measure inclusion for the first time, as well as assist firms who are already using inclusion metrics to develop their existing data and analysis. This Guide is updated one year on from its original launch based on learnings from the pilot survey ran in partnership with Financial Services Culture Board (FSCB) in October 2021. We have revised the survey questionnaire based on FSCB’s cognitive testing insights and added a question on stereotyping as well as an updated list of demographic characteristics which firms can use to strengthen their internal metrics. Firms will be able to gain a more in-depth picture of inclusion across their workforce, identifying areas for development and improvement.

Mind the gaps – Skills for the future of financial services 2022

24 March 2022

Our Future Skills report consolidates our member firms' insight on future skills and best practice in skills forecasting. Based on data from our Skills Gap Survey, our Member Survey, interviews and workshops, we have identified a set of five skills - three technical skills and two behaviours - which are crucial to future business success.

Inclusion across financial services: piloting a common approach to measurement

23 February 2022

This report represents the largest sector survey in the UK on inclusion to date with over 3,000 employee responses. The findings showed that, while the majority of employees surveyed felt their managers promoted an inclusive environment at work, individual experiences differed by (for example) disability, ethnicity, tenure and leadership responsibility. This was particularly the case when it came to concerns relating to being stereotyped, speaking up about issues, and the perceived fairness of workplace processes.

Reskilling: A business case for financial services organisations

27 January 2022

This report highlights the return on investment financial services firms can benefit from when they reskill an employee versus hiring someone new with the relevant skills.

Staying ahead in a changing world: the skills leaders need in financial services

25 November 2021

This report outlines skills shortages across data and technology, communication and environmental, social and governance currently facing financial services sector leadership teams.

Menopause in the Workplace: Impact on Women in Financial Services

18 October 2021

Menopause in the Workplace: Impact on Women in Financial Services reveals women’s experiences of the menopause impacts their confidence to perform their role.

Skills for future success: How financial, professional, and business services can address skills challenges to deliver recovery and growth in UK regions and nations

28 June 2021

The ‘Skills for Future Success’ report sets out how financial, professional and business services can address skills challenges to deliver recovery and growth in UK regions and nations.

Financial Services Skills Commission Marketing Guidelines

May 2021

The FSSC Marketing Guidelines set out key benefits to working in the FS sector which we recommend highlighting in career marketing materials and job applications to improve the attractiveness of the sector. Through a collaborative approach, consistent messaging from multiple firms should begin to change opinions of working in FS.

Keeping the pipeline of talent moving: making internships virtual

January 2021

COVID-19 has introduced a global shift in how we work, impacting entire workforces. This research covers how some firms moved to online internships, keeping the pipeline for talent open.

Diversity Data: The challenges of data collection and developing a culture of self-reporting

October 2020

Improved diversity and inclusion leads to better diversity of thought and therefore better business outcomes. Having the data available to analyse diversity is the crucial first step to being able to target improvements in workforce diversity and inclusion. Here we explore some of the barriers to collecting diversity data and how these can be addressed, highlighting examples of best practice.

The Future of Work: Lessons from a pandemic

October 2020

COVID-19 has profoundly shifted how financial services workers want to do their jobs in the future. The sector has been able to successfully transition to a remote working model, with 78% of financial services workers surveyed saying they’ve been able to work effectively from home during this period. But the skills needs of those workers have changed, and what they want from their employers in future has shifted. Read our new research, conducted with KPMG, on the lessons from the pandemic.

Financial Services Skills Taskforce report

January 2020

The the HMT-led Financial Services Skills Taskforce report sets out the actions that need to be taken to address the skills and talent crisis facing UK Financial Services.