Atradius sponsors inaugural Welsh National Finance Conference

The credit insurance and risk management company Atradius is to co-sponsor the first Welsh National Finance Conference (WNFC) which will be held at Cardiff City Hall this December.

The conference is being organised and run by the inaugural members of the Welsh Financial Services Graduate Programme, a newly established graduate opportunity developed by a consortium of leading, Wales-based financial employers in response to a common need for a more cohesive approach to recruiting and training graduates.

The WNFC will feature speakers from across the financial sector, covering a range of different topics from accountancy through to investment banking, showcasing the career opportunities available to undergraduates based in Wales.

As well as the opportunity to meet industry leaders, attendees will benefit from informative seminars, a careers fair and the chance to register their CV with each of the companies exhibiting at the event.

The Welsh Financial Services Graduate Programme is a two-year programme which offers graduates four separate six-month placements with participating employers which include Atradius, Admiral, Composite Legal, GMAC Financial Services and Principality Building Society.

The programme is partially funded by Welsh Government’s Sector Priority Fund which aims to nurture home-grown talent to keep up with the growth of the financial services sector in Wales. Those on the programme receive structured training, experience in areas such as underwriting, account management and finance and also obtain an MSc in Financial Services Management on graduation.

Anne Middleton, Welsh Chair of the National Skills Academy for Financial Services and HR Manager at Atradius, a key member in conceptualising and launching the scheme, said:

“We hope that this event will attract some of Wales’ future leaders in the financial sector and give them the advice and support they need to make successful careers for themselves. As a collective of Wales’ most influential finance businesses, we are committed to offering young people the highest standards of training and experience to give them every chance of a bright future.”

Cerys Owen, project manager for the Wales National Finance Conference added:

“This conference is the first of its kind in Wales and will be a great opportunity for students and graduates aspiring to a career in the financial sector. We’ve already had significant interest from businesses who want to be involved with the event, which shows what an important part graduates play in the industry and how essential it is that they have every opportunity to develop. The Welsh Financial Services Graduate Programme has already done some fantastic work to increase these opportunities and we hope that the conference will further this cause as well as promote the talented students attending.”

The Welsh National Finance Conference will take place on Monday 8th December, 2014 at Cardiff City Hall, between 08:00-18:30.