"Real people programmes" needed for finance recruitment

Financial services firms need to put personalised career development programmes in place if they want to attract candidates, it has been suggested.

Ian Smith, life sciences partner at Deloitte, told the Cambridge Evening News that the financial services sector has taken its eye "off the talent ball" and is now losing out.

He explained that chief financial officers "must personally own the challenge of developing people at all levels".

"Organisations must focus on what employees care about most - stretching capabilities, providing roles that engage their heads and hearts, as well as helping them to achieve their professional goals," he remarked.

Those managers who are actively engaged with their employees' development are more successful at recruiting people to finance jobs, as well as retaining talent, he added.

Recent research from Deloitte indicated that more than one-third of financial services organisations are having difficulties finding the right employees for their vacancies.