Ahead of International Women's Day, we sat down with Helen Bradley, Chief Executive Officer at Future Asset, a project that helps girls and young women explore careers in investment management.

Future Asset, part of Scottish financial education charity Didasko which also runs the Library of Mistakes, works with schools across Scotland, introducing students to finance through competitions, mentoring, and educational programmes. With women making up just 12% of UK fund managers, the charity is committed to increasing diversity in the industry and opening up opportunities for young women.

Hi, Helen. What’s your why? What drives you to do what you do?

I’ve spent my career working in education, helping young people from diverse backgrounds find their path. I’ve worked on widening participation in universities and with the Prince’s Trust, supporting young people facing challenges. Throughout my career, I’ve seen how access to opportunity - or the lack of it - shapes lives." And yet, since I started in the mid-1990s, things have only become harder. New challenges emerge, and progress isn’t always clear.

But working with young people gives me hope. Being a teenager has never been easy, but today’s world is more complicated than ever. Many young people don’t realise the obstacles they’ll face. Women, in particular, still encounter barriers that haven’t disappeared as the world has evolved; they have only become more insidious.

When I was 14, my mum died. She had stopped working to raise us, and I saw first-hand the struggles she faced. I remember thinking, I will never be in that position. I won’t be held back like that. But as I grew older, I realised those same barriers still existed - for me, for my children, and for so many young people.

I love the language choice there of ‘enabling’ rather than ‘empowering’. That feels deliberate?

Exactly. It’s about lighting fires rather than filling vessels. That’s why we run our competition. It’s about saying, ‘You can do this. Let’s find a way to engage you, to show why this matters and why it might interest you’ If it doesn’t, that’s fine too. But the point is to bring hidden talent to the surface and let them explore what excites them.

Can you tell us about Future Asset’s theory of change?

Future Asset exists to make investment management a better place. The industry has a serious gender imbalance: just over 12% of UK fund managers are women. That’s a shocking statistic.

Our core activity is our competition, and after five years, it’s clear that there is an incredible amount of untapped talent. We work with girls all over Scotland, many of whom had never considered financial services. Through the competition, they research companies, assess why they would (or wouldn’t) invest, and think critically. By the end, they say, ‘I never knew this existed! I’ve learned so much.’

Our goal is to make young women aware of the opportunities available to them. By equipping them with this awareness, we help them make informed choices about their futures, ultimately leading to greater career prospects and financial independence. They don’t have to choose finance; but they should know what’s out there.

What impact has Future Asset had so far? What are you most proud of?

The expansion is something I’m really proud of. In 2020, 20 schools signed up. Now, we work with over 100, reaching thousands of girls. And we stay in touch with many of them - just yesterday, three former participants messaged me on LinkedIn, saying, ‘I loved Future Asset! I’d love to stay involved.’

But it’s not just about finance. Some alumni have gone into musical theatre, teaching, or other fields, yet they still value what they learned with us. We really emphasise financial awareness, because whatever path you take, you need to understand how to manage your money. Know how pensions work. Women are still more likely to live in poverty in old age, so financial self-care matters.

I’ve worked in and around education since the mid-90s, and I’ve seen how much harder it has become. Teachers are stretched, resources are limited, yet they still make time for Future Asset because they see its value. One put it perfectly: ‘This is brilliant because I get to teach things I wouldn’t normally cover, but that I know are important.' Despite the pressures they face, they make space for this - and that’s something I’m incredibly proud of.

What challenges do you face?

Post-COVID, engagement has been much harder. The impact on young people has been huge - socially, emotionally, and academically. That’s why our role is more important than ever. The more we can do now, the more we can help them rebuild confidence, develop skills, and see what’s possible for them. And ultimately, that benefits not just them, but the industries they’ll go into.

Schools are doing incredible things with our programme. Competition winners receive £1000 to invest in their school, and they’re using it in such inspiring ways. One school ran a Dragons’ Den-style competition, where younger students pitched their own business ideas. Another set up an investment club which is open to everyone, bringing financial education into school life and helping students develop real-world skills. The older kids are working with primary school kids, which they love! It’s amazing to see how young people take these opportunities and make them their own, and create such a ripple effect.

What advice would you give young women considering finance or investment careers?

Say yes to every opportunity. Put your hand up. Try things. You never know where it might lead.

Many young people don’t realise their experiences are valuable. We tell them, "Your part-time job at Tesco? That shows resilience and time management!" One girl recently told me she didn’t have work experience, but she’d spent years shopping for her grandparents and helping them. That’s responsibility, reliability, and care. These skills matter, and we need to help young women recognise their worth.

How can we and others support your work?

There are lots of ways. Firms can become members - our fees are very reasonable and help fund what we do. Travel costs have skyrocketed, and without support, many schools simply can’t afford to send students to events, so we try to cover transport as much as possible.

Practical support is invaluable too. Can firms host school visits? Can professionals volunteer as coaches or competition judges? Can they offer insight into their hiring processes? Just having someone say, ‘Here’s what an interview looks like, here’s what we look for’ makes a huge difference.

Recently, one of our students applied for a marketing internship, which was three rounds of interviews and tasks. She was nervous, so we supported her through it. She doesn’t know yet if she’s got the job, but we’re reminding her that she made it to the final three, and that’s a huge achievement.

Sometimes, just knowing what to expect is all a young person needs to put their best foot forward. If we can continue opening doors, we’ll have done our job.

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We're proud to support Future Asset and their work in creating opportunities for the next generation of women in finance. If you're inspired by their work, find out how your firm can become a member or mentor here. Follow Future Asset’s work and how they’re inspiring the next generation of female investors here.