St James’s Place has partnered with education charity Young Enterprise to support the accreditation of schools looking to become centres of excellence for financial education.

The wealth manager will work with 21 schools over the next three years.

SJP and Young Enterprise will provide academic staff with the tools and resources needed to teach financial literacy and help build the financial confidence of students across the UK.

SJP advisers will play a key role in this partnership, supporting Young Enterprise consultants with the delivery of financial education workshops, work experience opportunities, teacher training and mentoring.

The partnership aims to drive a stronger financial education experience, improving financial literacy and building a supportive relationship between educators and students.

Vicki Foster, division director, responsible business at St James’s Place, said: “At St. James’s Place we are committed to being a leading responsible business. This means creating a positive impact through committing to help improve financial education for young people. By creating lessons plans and facilitating financial education training sessions for teachers, we are taking practical steps that are fundamental to developing and expanding financial literacy across the UK.

“With the backing of Young Enterprise supporting the Centre of Excellence programme, we are helping to build an accessible financial education programme within schools. The community-based programme is supported by local SJP Partners and employees from our wider business, and we hope that as the programme develops, each of the Centres of Excellence will share their learnings with others and improve access to financial education across the board.”

SJP will sponsor a consultant from the charity to work one to one with seven schools a year for the next three years.

The first three schools sponsored by the wealth manager are Tonge Moor Primary Academy in Bolton, Whitefield Primary School in Liverpool, and Moor House School and College in Oxted (Surrey).

SJP is also forming four partnerships with schools in Swindon, London, Solihull and Leeds this year.