GM Finance and Professional Services Network

The GM Finance and Professional Services Network returns with the third event in our series, bringing together leaders, recruiters, educational institutions and HR professionals from across Greater Manchester’s FPS sector to tackle what is arguably the biggest challenge facing the industry currently: Re-imagining Early Careers in Finance and Professional Services in the Age of AI.

This session will explore how Greater Manchester can build early-career pathways into FPS that work better for employers, better for young people and better for the regional economy.

If AI is taking over the routine tasks young people traditionally learned by doing, how do FPS employers, educators and young people redesign the early-career pathway, so judgement and capability still get built, rather than lost? Andy Burnham has publicly raised concerns about AI-led interviews for young people, and MBacc being rolled out nationally.

What to expect:

Keynote Address - Our keynote speakers will share insights into the inspiring programmes and initiatives they have created which have helped young people find employment.

Panel Discussion: A diverse panel of up to five FPS leaders — representing a mix of organisation sizes, subsectors, and entry level challenges — will share real‑world experiences of: breaking the mould and providing opportunities to young people, innovative recruitment policies, partnerships with educational bodies. Panellists will offer contrasting perspectives on what’s working, what isn’t, and where the sector needs to improve.

Interactive Roundtables: Participants will have the opportunity to discuss and contribute to an array of different sub-themes that contributes to the overarching topic area.

Deliverers: Phil Kilburn - Financial and Professional Sector Development Lead at GM Business Growth Hub, Thomas Avery - Stakeholder Account Manager for Stockport for GM Business Growth Hub.

What will attendees take away from the event? This session will explore how Greater Manchester can build early-career pathways into Finance and Professional Services that work better for employers, better for young people and better for the regional economy.