Financial Skills Partnership (FSP) will open up its Graduate Foundation College (GFC) to 150 university leavers from 16 October.

The centre’s ten-week pilot programme will train entrants to industry standards and could lead to a six-month paid internship with a small to medium-sized financial advice company in 2013.

Paul McCraith, FSP partnership manager, said: “If this pilot scheme is a success, we will be seeking to expand the workshops to cover mortgage advice, paraplanning and wealth management.”

Tenet, Aviva, the Chartered Insurance Institute, the Department of Work & Pensions, Redland Business Solutions and Scottish Widows are among the organisations backing the launch.

Keith Richards, Tenet group distribution and development director, said: “Tenet is proud to be supporting this programme from the outset. It’s a very positive move, particularly given the impact of RDR and the challenge of bringing new blood into the industry.”

Courses are being held in Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Leeds, London and Manchester.