The Personal Finance Society’s e-mentoring scheme saw a surge in interest from Financial Planners as Coronavirus restrictions were introduced.

The number of Financial Planners signing up to be a mentor, or mentee, increased by 34% in the first quarter of 2020.

The e-mentoring scheme, Connect, has attracted over 1,300 users in the past year and allows PFS members to mentor other professionals at any point of their career, from anywhere in the world.

One in 10 of those who signed up to the e-mentoring scheme during that period were members from outside of the UK.

Of the Financial Planners currently offering mentorship through the scheme, 37% are Fellows of the Personal Finance Society, 22% are certified diploma qualified members and 41% are associate level members.

Keith Richards, chief executive of the Personal Finance Society, said: “Coronavirus hasn’t stopped financial advice professionals from wanting to continue to develop their skills and progress their careers.

“There can be little substitute for experience and soft skills to compliment technical competence and both mentor and mentee can gain invaluable insight into the workings of the wider profession from taking part in the Connect e-mentoring scheme.

“The benefit of using a digital platform means that the sharing of professional knowledge is not restricted by geography or can be hampered by measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus.”