When it comes to future ways of working, each organisation is different. So what can we learn from each other?

This insight blog from Gillian MacLellan of CMS, reflects on our new Ways of Working report and what its findings mean for employers and employees.

In our latest spotlight blog series we’re talking about diversity and inclusion. The series aims to profile the different people that make our industry thrive while enabling further progress.

Our first blog comes from Capco’s Shannan Patterson, who describes her experience of hiding an illness at work and what it takes to realise your true strengths.

In our latest Spotlight on Transferable Skills blog we hear from Joe Crehan from Rathbones on his journey from Science teacher to investment manager.

My name is Rory McIntyre and I’ve spent the last few years working in several workforce planning roles at NatWest Group. A lot of my stakeholders work in some of NatWest’s Technology franchises so I’m regularly in conversations about what skills are required to meet the demands of each business area. But despite the exponential rate of Technology advances and subsequent changes in skills, the requirement for soft transferable skills is still as high as ever.

We are living in a new digital landscape, spending a huge proportion of our time on one digital platform or another. Most of our conversations may be happening on WhatsApp or Zoom; we’re working more and more on Teams and connecting with our friends via TikTok or Instagram. Our digital life is becoming integral to our real life.

“It was eye opening for me to see how many different roles there are in the Financial Services, I suppose from the outside you don’t really think about the work that goes into making banks run. What became clear to me is how the skills of ex-service personnel can benefit the Financial Services.”

In December 2021, SFE Young Professionals shared the findings of research they’d led on mental health in the financial and related professional services industry in Scotland. It identified that work was a major factor contributing to mental health issues, but also the role of employers in helping to support people and improve wellbeing. They grouped the key actions they wanted industry to take into four broad areas: culture, capability, communication and covid-19 recovery. Since then, SFE, in partnership with the Young Professionals, has been leading a programme of activity to support these action areas. This interview and article forms part of that programme.

“Financial services in Scotland is a historic industry with a bright future and Scottish Enterprise is committed to promoting this globally to encourage even more companies to invest, locate and grow here. We value our relationship with SFE and its members and would welcome the opportunity to explore joint promotional opportunities.”