At a time when the gender pension gap continues to widen, with projections indicating that gender parity among UK investment managers may not be achieved until the year 2215, Future Asset is taking meaningful action now to drive lasting change. The competition showcases the future of Scotland’s talent pipeline: ambitious, capable and increasingly female.

This year’s competition brought together 47 finalists aged 14–18, representing eight schools across regions including the Highlands, Argyll and Bute, Midlothian, East Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire and Edinburgh. These finalists were selected from 159 entries submitted by teams across more than 900 participating students.

Lasswade High School claimed the Senior Category title, securing £1,000 for their school, while Hamilton Grammar School won the Junior Category, receiving £800. Oban High School achieved a remarkable milestone by finishing as Runner‑Up for the second consecutive year – a first in the competition’s history.

The event sits at the heart of Future Asset’s mission to transform Scotland’s financial sector by inspiring more young women to explore careers in investment and addressing long‑standing gender imbalances across the industry.

Judges included senior figures from the investment world such as Mandy Rawlinson, Head of UK and EMEA at Aberdeen Investments, and Sally Greig, head of global bonds and chief of investment staff for multi asset and fixed income at Baillie Gifford.

Reflecting on her experience as a judge, Mandy Rawlinson said: “I was hugely impressed by the skills that these girls brought to the task. Many spoke about the misconceptions they had about financial services before the competition. Financial services aren’t widely taught in schools, and Future Asset makes it tangible — showing young girls the realities of the industry and that it’s not just maths and numbers.”

The awards ceremony, held at the NatWest/RBS Conference Centre, also welcomed a panel of Future Asset alumnae who previously took part in the competition and have since gone on to pursue opportunities within the financial services sector. Among them were Jenna Donnelly, now an apprentice at M&G in Stirling, and Gabi Nagle, a former Kingussie High School pupil now studying at the University of Edinburgh with a growing interest in sustainable investment. The panel exemplified the growing network of young women shaping their own futures and who may one day manage Scotland’s pensions and investment portfolios.

Future Asset’s influence continues to grow rapidly. Since 2020, the programme has expanded from 13 participating schools to 100, with more than 3,500 students taking part and investment professionals from over 50 firms volunteering as coaches and judges.

Special recognition this year went to students from Castlebrae Community Campus and Millburn Academy, who received awards for Best ESG Case and Best Elevator Pitch Video respectively.

Kelly Smith, Business Teacher at Lasswade High School, praised the Lasswade High School students’ remarkable achievement: “We are incredibly proud of our Senior Phase S5 girls for their outstanding achievement in winning the Future Asset competition.

“Their success reflects not only their hard work and ambition, but also the valuable skills they’ve developed in teamwork, communication and financial understanding. Opportunities like this open meaningful pathways for our young people, inspiring confidence and raising aspirations for their future careers.

“These pathways are vital as they move forward into the world of work. A big thank‑you to Future Asset for providing such an invaluable experience for our pupils and for young people across the country.”