Jess takes her first step into a financial career

Jess O’Connor, 18, has joined well-respected wealth management company Northern Spire as an apprentice.

Despite her young age, Jess has known for some time that she wanted to become a financial adviser and studied a two-year LIBF finance course alongside her A-levels at Durham Sixth Form.

Now she has joined Northern Spire on a one-year Financial Services Level 3 apprenticeship through regional training provider Skills North East. Jess will spend four days a week at Northern Spire’s Sunderland office, and one day a week studying.

Jess said: “I’m thrilled to have joined Northern Spire and am really enjoying myself. The team here is supportive and my colleagues are happy to give me advice and support. I’m kept busy researching, speaking to para planners, chasing providers and liaising with clients.”

While working at Northern Spire, Jess is also adding credits towards her Chartered Insurance Institute RO professional exams. The RO exams are designed to assess a candidate’s knowledge and understanding of various aspects of financial services and are crucial for those wanting to become a financial adviser.

Jess added: “I’ve been interested in finance for some time – initially I started on an accountancy course, but that didn’t feel quite right. When I started on the LIBF finance services course I realised that was what I wanted to do – it was a better fit for me.”

Deborah Telfer, Managing Director at Northern Spire, said: “We’ve been really impressed with Jess – both her work and her attitude. She gets on well with the team and is very eager to learn everything she can. We interviewed a number of quality candidates for the position, but Jess shone with passion and an interest in the financial services industry.”

While not working on her apprenticeship, Jess enjoys motorbiking and rock climbing.

For more on Northern Spire, go to  https://www.northernspire.co.uk