Glasgow’s top financial students recognised

Six top financial services students, from universities and colleges in Glasgow, have been recognised by Glasgow’s International Financial Services District (IFSD) for achieving outstanding performance on their courses. At an awards ceremony for the IFSD Glasgow Student Awards 2017, each student was presented with a certificate and £250 to mark their achievements.

The awards programme was established by the IFSD Partnership to highlight the wealth of talented graduates emerging from Glasgow’s universities and colleges, prepared for careers in financial services. All six students were nominated by their respective institutions as ‘outstanding achievers.’

The winners are:

• Connor McLaughlin, 21, from Irvine, Ayrshire – has completed a Honours degree in Finance at the University of Strathclyde and has secured a position on the HSBC graduate scheme.
• Rui Luo, 23, from Shanghai in China – a post grad student undertaking a Masters in International Finance at the University of Glasgow. Keen to pursue a career in investment banking or consulting.
• Dominic Gibson, 27, from Paisley – completed a degree in Accounting at the University of the West of Scotland and is looking to work in Fund Accounting.
• Siobhan Watt, 27, from Greenock – completed a First-Class Honours degree in Finance, Investment and Risk at Glasgow Caledonian University and has secured a position as a credit risk analyst.
• Zivile Venskuviene, 37, moved to Glasgow 7 years ago from Lithuania. She has studied at Glasgow Clyde College for 6 years, culminating this year in a HND Accounting. She hopes now to pursue a professional accounting qualification through ACCA.
• Karolina Piekarniak, 22, moved to Glasgow from Poland. She has just completed a HNC in Financial Services at City of Glasgow College and wants to work as a financial adviser.

Congratulating the six award recipients on behalf of the IFSD Partnership, Kevin Rush, Head of Economic Development, Glasgow City Council said, “These awards recognise the great work being done by the universities and colleges in Glasgow and the relationships they have with the financial services sector to ensure a steady pipeline of well qualified graduates to work in the industry”.

Sharon Hamilton, Director, Financial and Business Services, Scottish Enterprise said, “We know that the availability and quality of skills are key factors for the success of financial institutions worldwide; the IFSD Student Awards underline the exceptional talent graduating from Glasgow and the West of Scotland for the global financial services industry today and in the future.”

Margaret Johnson, Executive Director, Human Resources, Morgan Stanley, said, “It has been a real pleasure to meet the award winners who have worked so hard to achieve this outstanding success. With talented graduates like these aspiring to work in financial services, it is clear that the future growth and success of the sector is in very good hands.”

Since its launch in 2001, the IFSD has been developed by a partnership of the public and private sectors led by Scottish Enterprise and Glasgow City Council. Over £1 billion has so far been invested to transform the previously run down area of the city centre. The District has attracted over 15,000 financial sector jobs from some of the biggest names in global finance including Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, Barclays, BNP Paribas, HSBC, esure, Tesco Bank and Aon.

For further information please visit the IFSD Glasgow website