In the mid-1990s, people became a key strategic asset for investment firms, who increasingly looked to offer customised training for their employees.
The investment industry is always growing, and always learning. But it was in the mid-1990s that so-called ‘soft’ skills came into focus for the first time. It was no longer enough for young professionals to learn the technical aspects of their roles. Companies increasingly looked to develop their management and personal skills. As this article from the July 1995 issue of Professional Investor reveals, not everybody was on board with the notion of professional development.
Some critics voiced concerns about employees being away from their jobs for unnecessary training. However, with the advent of new ‘delivery mechanisms’ like the CD-ROM, the article argued that training was just a disk insertion away. For the first time, employees could have access to professional development that fit around their own schedules. A far cry, but first step, towards the multitude of online opportunities that employees can access today.
