SJP says firms have 'unconscious lack of awareness' when addressing gender gap

Appeal to advisers as Yes She Can diversity campaign launched

Advice giant St. James's Place (SJP) has said a lack of knowledge about drawing women to investment is holding the finance industry back and advisers need to do more to appeal to all demographics.

Speaking at The Wisdom Council's launch of the Yes She Can initiative, addressing the gender gap in investment, SJP marketing director Claire Blackwell said the industry had an "unconscious lack of awareness". SJP, Aberdeen Standard Investments, EY, HSBC Asset Management UK, Royal London Group, Scottish Widows and Vitality all form Yes She Can, a research and advertising campaign targeted at female investors. Blackwell said: "I don't think we've gone out of our way to make ourselves not accessible to women. As an industry I don't think we have done enough but I don't believe it's been...