My Academy: 2 years of developing people and growing careers

In 2022, My Pension Expert decided that as a business, we wanted to invest more in what makes us great – our people.

Across our teams, both office-based and field-based, there was an array of potential for growth and advancement. The question was how we could encourage it—enter My Academy!

My Academy was launched with the aim of clearing a path for anyone interested in pursuing a career in the financial services industry. This doesn’t necessarily just mean the route of financial advice but a whole range of sectors in the industry, including management, marketing, sales, technology, and more!

The people

Two years of My Academy has resulted in four different completed apprenticeships, two summer interns, and an array of progressions within the business! The apprenticeships have been offered via Doncaster College, our local education centre offering apprenticeship opportunities, university-level qualifications and studying resources for adult learners. Many of our apprentices are still employed within the business and have advanced in their roles, while others have completed their qualifications and left to explore other ventures.

Nevertheless, encouraging the development of young minds is an important prospect for our social governance, and we’re proud to have been a part of our apprentices’ career journey.

In addition to successful apprenticeships, the business has seen numerous career progressions and promotions as a result of the My Academy scheme. In 2024 alone, we saw ten different promotions within our teams. Colleagues who joined our sales department several years ago, such as Kyle Simpson and Katie Stather, have since progressed to roles on our Executive Board, which really exhibits the width of the opportunities My Academy has to offer.

Why initiatives like these are important

You heard it first from our colleagues; initiatives like My Academy are such rewarding and important opportunities. Why? Education and learning initiatives present new gateways for colleagues to access qualifications for which they wouldn’t typically have the resources. Education can quickly incur high costs from materials and course fees, which many may struggle to pay upfront in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis. The majority of courses and training we offer at My Academy are funded by My Pension Expert, subject to certain conditions and availability of the qualifications.

Not only do programmes like My Academy grant access to these qualifications, but they can also offer individuals support throughout the process. Take Emma, for example, who joined our sales team in 2019 and is now on the path to becoming a full-time IFA. Emma had never considered financial advice as a potential career and, due to being older, did not believe she was able to take part. However, through her own determination, hard work and the support of My Academy, she was able to pass her exams with flying colours and soar through her qualifications.

Like our financial advice for our clients, My Academy places the best interests of the MPE team at heart. With two years running and various success stories to showcase, we’re excited to see what the next two years have to offer.