Investment Management seeks to cast off its ‘men in dark suits’ image in pursuit of more female applicants

Women in Investment Management, from TARGETjobs Events, is a bold initiative to show ambitious female undergraduates that top firms need more women in their businesses. Now in its second year, Women in Investment Management takes place in London on 2 November 2012 in partnership with seven leading international firms: Baillie Gifford, BNY Mellon, Fidelity Worldwide Investment, Henderson Global Investors, M&G Investments, Martin Currie and Schroders. Several hundred undergraduates will compete for 100 places at the event, ensuring that only the most motivated attend.

This is the only event of its kind, focused exclusively on female students who want to learn more about what investment management is and specifically what special contribution women do make, and can make, to its success. Investment management is not a traditional career choice for women and attracts many more applications from men – but seven top firms are gathering in London to challenge the stereotypical ‘men in suits’ image of their industry by providing high-performing female role models to network with the students and share their experiences.

Richard Barry, Human Resources Manager at Baillie Gifford, says: “Investment management is a vital industry to the UK. It offers interesting, varied and rewarding roles to graduates from any degree discipline. Our industry has historically attracted a majority of male graduates and we want to use this event to promote the range of roles in our sector to women undergrad and postgrad students. Baillie Gifford was involved in this event last year and we found it extremely useful to talk to and engage with potential applicants who may not have been interested in a job in investment management”.