Masters students get taste of wealth management industry at Fairstone

Masters students from Henley Business School have been getting a taste of life at one of the UK’s largest wealth management groups during an internship at Fairstone.

MSc Finance & Financial Technology student Austen Williams (above right) and MSc Finance student Matteo Antonetti (above left) have spent time at Fairstone’s office in the heart of the City of London as part of a growing partnership between the wealth management group and Henley Business School.

The two have been getting involved in a range of activities including client annual reviews, liaising with providers and drafting Letters of Authority as they learn more about the wealth management industry.

Matteo, 24, from Bologna in Italy, said: “I’m really enjoying the experience so far. There is a lot to take in, from how the industry works to the dynamics of the office, but people here have been really good, very welcoming and have a lot of time for us.”

Austen, 21, from Kent, said: “Where the office is really makes you feel in the middle of everything. Everyone has been very helpful – they’re very approachable which makes it easy to ask people questions and find out more about the business and the industry.”

After completing their month-long placement, Matteo and Austen will write reports on their experiences, including research into Fairstone and the wealth management sector, which will count towards their final degrees.

They both agree that the experience so far has been useful not just in terms of their degrees but also in pointing towards their potential future careers.

Austen said: “Being here has definitely made me look at wealth management and financial advice in a different way.

“A lot of tech roles in finance are very isolated, but at Fairstone, there seems to be a real mix of tech with client-facing work, which is one of the things I really like here.”

Matteo added: “I’m trying to keep an open mind and I’m not completely sure of where I want my career path to go.

“Since starting at Fairstone I understand wealth management much more than I did before – it’s been helpful and interesting for me.”

The internship is the latest development in a growing relationship between Fairstone and Henley Business School which has seen the wealth management group attend careers fairs and provide advice and information to students at the School.

Blayne Cooper, Head of Employer Engagement at Henley Business School, said: “This is a great opportunity for both the students and for Fairstone as a business.

“The internship gives students invaluable real-world experience – while theory is important and Henley Business School has a lot of cutting edge thinking, this give students the chance to put that theory into practice.

“From Fairstone’s point of view, they get to work with really bright students who give a different perspective on the business and for the students they get to see and experience how things work in a real-life setting and the challenges of the day to day operation of a business.

“It’s a real win-win for both parties.”

Rob McDonnell, performance director for Fairstone’s South region, said: “This is the first time we have had interns from Henley Business School and it’s been a hugely positive experience.

“As a business, we are always keen to help engage and encourage the next generation of wealth management professionals and to share our knowledge and experience with them.

“Austen and Matteo have really fitted in well to the City office and have certainly made their presence felt.

“It’s been great hosting them and we look forward to continuing and expanding our relationship with Henley Business School.”

Fairstone partners with a number of universities, colleges, and schools across the country including Newcastle, Northumbria and Sunderland Universities.

Kevin Waters, head of learning, talent and development at Fairstone, said: “These partnerships provide access to high-potential students and early-career professionals, offering meaningful experiences, learning opportunities, and career pathways that align with organisational objectives.

“They also enable our offices and departments to deliver consistent, high-quality pipelines of talent, aligned to business demand. These relationships also help identify talent pools early, support curriculum-linked activities, and provide direct feeders into apprenticeships and specialist roles.

“Ultimately, partnering with educational institutions is not only about recruitment, it is about shaping the future workforce, supporting growth and fostering a culture of innovation and inclusion within Fairstone.”