The St. James’s Place (SJP) Financial Adviser Academy welcomed 200 qualified advisers to a career in financial planning at its 2026 Graduation Ceremony, held on Friday 2nd October at London’s Odeon Luxe Leicester Square.
The ceremony brought together SJP leaders, Academy alumni and recent graduates to reflect on the opportunities ahead for the profession. Mark FitzPatrick, CEO of St. James’s Place, made the opening remarks, reflecting on the graduates’ achievements and the important part they will play in meeting the growing demand for financial advice, while SJP Academy Director Mark Newman welcomed attendees and presented them with their certificates.
Previous Academy graduates and current SJP Partners Lorraine Sellwood and Nathan Ind shared their experiences of building a successful business and developing rewarding long-term careers in the financial advice profession, while Gee Foottit, Recruitment Campaigns and Partnerships Lead for the SJP Academy, hosted a panel discussion with recent Academy graduates who shared insights into growing their careers in financial advice.
Addressing the auditorium, Mark FitzPatrick said: “As the UK’s leading financial advice business, we’re committed to helping more people across the UK have access to advice. Our growing SJP Academy is a sign of that commitment. The UK needs more advisers, but we also need a broader range of advisers. People with different experiences, different backgrounds and different perspectives, who are capable of building relationships with the clients we serve now, their children and perhaps even their grandchildren in the years ahead. Their role is to bring clarity, support and confidence to people at a time when such professional insight is badly needed.”
“I look forward to seeing how our next generation of advisers will build those relationships and we welcome them as they join the St. James’s Place Partnership.”
Established in 2012, the SJP Academy is the largest and most comprehensive financial adviser training and development programme in the UK, responsible for training around half of all new financial advisers entering the profession in the last five years. The SJP Academy trains high calibre candidates from a range of backgrounds, including military, professional sport, retail, education, small business and female career returners, amongst others.
At the end of the programme, Academy graduates can enjoy the autonomy of running their own business under the SJP umbrella, currently the choice of around a third of those at the Graduation, or develop their career within existing Partner Practices, the route taken by around two-thirds.
Reflecting on the Graduation, Academy Director Mark Newman added: “We’re thrilled to be able to celebrate our newest group of graduates and highlight the incredible effort they’ve shown in reaching this point. The SJP Academy is a powerful example of the commitment to investment in development; helping advisers new to the profession to build the skills and confidence to provide trusted, personal advice in an increasingly complex financial world.”