BWD announces that it has teamed up with top CII accredited trainer Mark Thewlis, who will be providing key training to the team on the “qualifications maze”.
 
The move follows the Financial Services Authority’s publication last month of the final list of authorised qualifications retail investment advisers can take, which will ensure they meet Retail Distribution Review (RDR) requirements before 1 January 2013.

The FSA says the list “provides the certainty advisers need to prepare for the implementation of RDR requirements”.

Director Alistair Brownlee commented: “Mark is one of the best trainers in the business and we brought him in to give us some training on RDR and how all the new and old qualifications fit together. We are speaking to more and more advisers who are in the dark about how they are going to be affected or which qualifications they need to get to level four – not to mention if there is any CPD requirement on top.

Marks training was very helpful and we are very well placed to talk to candidates and clients about what is required come RDR.”

BWD is proud to announce that it has been exclusively retained by the City office of Barclays Wealth to identify five high profile Financial Planners.
Having seen off competition from a number of larger competitors to win the mandate, the Director in charge of the project Alistair Brownlee said: “We are very pleased to have won this business. Barclays Wealth is already a key client in a number of markets for BWD and this will only reinforce our relationship.

“Barclays Wealth is a very exciting place to be right now and its message to the market is strong: it is currently investing £350M over the next few years to become a top four Wealth Manager globally. We think this is a fantastic opportunity to join a market-leading firm at a very interesting time.

The project will involve a significant amount of research into the London financial planning market and we will have to draw on all of our proactive resourcing experience to identify the high calibre individuals that Barclays Wealth expect. Candidates must possess high levels of qualifications and experience being at least diploma qualified or preferably Chartered status with a successful track record in dealing with high net worth individuals in all aspects of complex financial planning.”

BWD enjoyed a team-building day at the ‘Go Ape’ adventure course located within the stunning surroundings of Dalby Forest, North Yorkshire.
The BWD team spent the day engaged in high level pursuits including high-wire tree crossings, zip wires and stomach-hollowing Tarzan drops.
Despite being physically exhausted, the day was rounded off by dinner and drinks.

Director Gareth Davies commented: “Team building activities play an important role in the success for BWD. Although we promote a culture of healthy competition within the company we recognise that our continued success can only be achieved by working as part of a team. We have a great team of people here and I’m so pleased that everyone enjoyed themselves. We’ll certainly be doing something like this again.”

BWD is delighted to announce that it has expanded its financial services offering with the launch of a new Employee Benefits (EB) division.

The new division is led by Associate Director Zoe Priselac, who was recruited by the firm from Hays where she was one of the top billers.

BWD Director Alistair Brownlee said: “Our newly created EB division – covering roles such as actuarial, consultancy, ‘in-house’ and ‘employee benefits’ – will provide our existing regulated and intermediary clients with a complementary service which underpins our vision of providing a complete recruitment service focusing solely within financial services.

“I couldn’t think of a better person than Zoe to help us realise our aim.

Zoe enjoyed phenomenal success with Hays so we’re thrilled that she’s joined us.”

Commenting on her new role with BWD, Zoe said: “I am delighted to have joined the firm.   BWD is recognised as a specialist financial services recruitment firm which  recognises that customer service and understanding clients’ business needs  are vitally important.

The creation of an EB division completes the  business offering  where all potential needs can be serviced by  dedicated, specialist consultants with expert financial services knowledge.”

BWD are delighted to announce that they have successfully placed two of the three team members into fund of fund specialist T Bailey Asset Management.

Director Gareth Davies said “we are really pleased that we successfully sourced two high calibre individuals for Philippa at T Bailey. When we received the requirements for the position it was clear that we had to source the best possible candidates in the market with a working knowledge of the asset management arena. After a thorough search we identified two individuals who ticked all of the boxes for the role.

We have thoroughly enjoyed working alongside a growing investment boutique who, like us, are committed to providing their clients with an exceptional level of service. We wish Philippa and the team at T Bailey all the success in the future and look forward to working with them again”

T Bailey’s Head of Sales Philippa Gee was quoted as saying “BWD delivered a good variety of cvs that clearly demonstrated that they understood our requirements and had the right calibre of individuals.  I just wish I had gone to them in the first place, it would have saved a great deal of time!”

BWD is pleased to announce that it has been selected to join a hand picked panel of firms to assist with specialist recruitment for the Santander Group. In its role BWD will mainly be assisting by identifying and recruiting experienced financial advisers across the UK.  Gary Raine, an Associate Director at BWD said “I am very pleased we have won this account, as it could be a fantastic opportunity to open doors within such a large organisation.  It is very important during these lean times that we align ourselves with the big players in the market”

BWD are proud to be sponsoring the ‘BIG BIKE RIDE’ which is going to support the NSPCC’s goal to raise £50 million for their vital helpline services. Director Gareth explained said “we are thrilled to be supporting such a worthy cause. The NSPCC do a fantastic job and, in addition to the ‘Big Bike Ride’, we will be supporting future fund raising events through the NSPCC as part of our CSR policy.”

Award winning search and selection firm BWD announces that it has established a Finance Division, and has recruited two former SF Group finance specialist recruiters, Ross Broad and Jordan Forbes, to spearhead its efforts in this area.

The new Division, which specialises in recruiting finance professionals within Financial Services across the UK, is already working with well known FTSE 100 companies through to small boutique Financial Services organisations. 

BWD Director James Walker commented: “The creation of a Finance Division enables us to deliver an even better service to clients, existing and new, whilst, at the same time, underlines our commitment to providing a first class service within the financial services sector.

“Ross and Jordan are highly experienced in this area and I have no doubt that they will be valuable assets to the BWD team.”

BWD continue to defy the economic gloom by announcing record quarterly revenue between January to March 2009. The rise represents a 16% increase over the previous quarter and continues to cement BWD’s growing reputation as a national supplier of professional employees.

Director James Walker says “despite the continued uncertainty both economic and regulatory we continue to quietly build our business by providing the service our client’s deserve in such challenging times”.

Alison Howard, Associate Director of BWD, has successfully retained her crown as ‘Top Consultant’ for 2008. Recognising this achievement, Alison and her partner have been flown on an all expenses paid holiday to the beautiful island of St Lucia. Director Gareth Davies comments “to be our top billing consultant for two consecutive years is an immense accomplishment and thoroughly deserved”.