1. Career Progression Pathways Finance and Professional Services
Overview…
Over 46,000 people work in the Financial and Professional Services sector across the Liverpool City Region (representing 7.5% of total employment) but in fact contributing 27.3% of the total LCR output. There are in excess of 4,900 businesses and jobs grew by 4,740 between 2010 and 2016 with variation across sub sectors. Forecasts for the sector suggest that employment will continue to increase at almost 1% per annum to 2025 and deliver above average growth for the Liverpool City Region.
The definition of Financial and Professional Services in the Liverpool City Region (LCR) includes: Finance, Legal and Insurance sectors along with some aspects of Architectural and Engineering services and related technical consultancy, technical testing and analysis. It also takes in Administrative and support services, as well as head office functions in areas such as Marketing, Human Resources and Procurement and Call Centre operations.
The Financial and Professional Services sector provides good quality employment - the majority of employees in the sector work in full time employment. Average annual gross pay (north west) for the wider financial, real estate and professional services sector in 2016 was £26,926.
Will there be opportunities?
Did you know?
This sector has a younger than average age profile with 61% aged (compared to 56% across all sectors) and just 29% are aged 50+ (compared to 32% across all sectors).
Liverpool City Region is recognised by government as a Financial Sector of Excellence due to national expertise in areas of finance and insurance. These include the third largest grouping of wealth management businesses in the UK and specialist professional services in maritime law, insurance, accounting and financing.
As a relatively highly qualified industry, this sector relies on a strong supply of skills. Within a context of changing regulations and markets, professional development and in work training are important for businesses to remain competitive. The LCR business survey indicated that 64% of businesses in the sector recruited in the last 12 months, primarily due to business growth and natural staff turnover. Attitude and motivation were seen as key qualities that candidates need to possess alongside more formal qualifications.
Human Resources Asst.
Human resource assistants are the behind-the-scenes collaborators and colleagues whose main job responsibilities are focused on helping HR directors and managers accomplish HR-related tasks
Other jobs:
Administrative assistant, finance team member, enrolment officer, appointments manager
Trainee Solicitor
Solicitor, pupil barrister, barrister, judge. In the United Kingdom, Australia, Hong Kong, Ireland, and certain other English common law jurisdictions, a trainee solicitor is a prospective lawyer undergoing professional training at a law firm to qualify as a full-fledged solicitor
Legal secretary, trainee, trainee HSE manager
Senior Underwriter
Underwriters operate in many aspects of the financial world, including the mortgage industry, insurance industry, equity markets, and common types of debt securities
Motor insurance underwriter, mortgage underwriter, finance and loans underwriter, equity and investments underwriter
Chartered Accountant
Chartered accountants work in all fields of business and finance, including auditing, taxation, financial and general management. Some are engaged in public practice work, others work in the private sector and some are employed by government bodies
Other jobs:
Solicitor, trainee barrister, finance director

2. Educational Level Example Qualification Typical Earnings / Role
Entry Level
Involves building basic knowledge and skills and is not geared towards specific occupations.
Entry Level Award, Certificate or Diploma
Entry Level English for speakers of other languages (ESOL)
Entry Level Essential or Functional Skills
Skills for Life
Level 1
Involves activities which mostly relate to everyday situations and may be linked to job competence.
First Certificate
GCSE grades 3, 2, 1 or grades D, E, F, G
Level 1 Award, Certificate or Diploma
Level 1 ESOL
Level 1 Essential or Functional Skills
Level 1 National Vocational Qualification (NVQ)
Music grades 1, 2 and 3
Level 2
Involves building knowledge and skills in relation to an area of work or subject area for many roles.
CSE grade 1
GCSE grades 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4 or grades A*-C
Intermediate Apprenticeship
Level 2 Award, Certificate or Diploma
Level 2 Essential or Functional Skills
Level 2 National Certificate or Diploma
Level 2 NVQ / Level 2 ESOL
Music Grades 4 and 5
O Level Grade A, B or C
Level 3
Involves obtaining detailed knowledge and skills. It is for people wishing to go to university, working on their own or supervising others.
A Level / AS Level
Access to Higher Education Diploma
Advanced Apprenticeship
Applied General
International Baccalaureate Diploma
Level 3 Award, Certificate or Diploma
Level 3 National Certificate or Diploma
Level 3 NVQ / Level 3 ESOL
Music Grades 6, 7 and 8
Tech Level
Level 4
For people working in technical and professional jobs and/or managing and developing others
Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE)
Higher Apprenticeship
Higher National Certificate (HNC)
Level 4 Award, Certificate or Diploma
Level 4 NVQ
Level 5
For people working as higher grade technicians, professionals or managers
Diploma of Higher Education
Foundation Degree
Higher National Diploma (HND)
Level 5 Award, Certificate or Diploma
Level 5 NVQ
Level 6
Involves the achievement of high level of professional knowledge and is for people working as knowledge based/management professionals
Degree Apprenticeship
Degree with Honours e.g. Batchelor of the Arts (BA) hons; Batchelor of Science (BSc) hons
Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma
Level 6 Award, Certificate or Diploma
Level 6 NVQ
Ordinary Degree without honours
Level 7
Integrated Master’s Degree e.g. Master of Engineering (MEng)
Level 7 Award, Certificate or Diploma
Level 7 NVQ
Master’s Degree eg MA or MSc
Postgraduate Certificate/Diploma
Postgraduate Certificate in Education PGCE
Level 8
Doctorate e.g. Doctor of Philosophy (PhD or DPhil)
Level 8 Award, Certificate or Diploma
Salaries starting from £12,000+
Salaries starting from £12,000+
Salaries starting from £14,000+
Salaries starting from £16,000+
Salaries starting from £18,000+
Salaries starting from £20,000+
Salaries starting from £25,000+
Salaries starting from £28,000+
Salaries starting from £35,000+
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