Openwork has welcomed the first graduates of the year from its Openwork Academy with a ceremony at its Bishopsgate office in London.

Eight candidates ranging in age between 25 and 47 completed the Academy programme and graduated at the ceremony.

The majority of the new graduates are career changers with experience across a broad range of sectors, including education, the armed forces, manufacturing and hospitality. The average age of candidates across the programme is 29, and around 39% of candidates are women.

Openwork is growing its number of advisers to enable more people to have access to financial advice. It expects another 55 advisers to graduate during the course of the year and is planning the biggest intake for the Academy next month.

The eight candidates graduating have gained either the CII Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning and/or the CII Certificate in Mortgage Advice.

Claire Limon, director of learning and acquisition at Openwork, said: “We’re delighted to celebrate the graduation of these eight hard-working candidates. They represent the next generation of advisers who will go on to help more people around the UK access expert financial advice and wealth management services; creating and protecting wealth for themselves and their families.

“We are passionate about attracting a diverse talent pool, and the Academy welcomes people from all walks of life to pursue a career in financial advice. The mix of people and the past career experience of the latest graduates is a glowing example of this.

“We wish the group every success with the next stage of their individual adviser journeys – we are confident that the programme has equipped them with a solid foundation upon which to build their career in advice.”

Since its foundation in 2014, the Openwork Academy programme has trained and qualified over 150 advisers.