Employer Spotlight: Mathew Whitehouse, RBC Brewin Dolphin — Helping Students Build Wealth for Their Future
Money isn’t always the easiest topic to talk about, but during STEM Week at Bolton Impact Trust - Youth Challenge, students had the chance to explore it in a way that felt practical, empowering, and even exciting.
That was thanks to Mathew Whitehouse, a Wealth Manager at RBC Brewin Dolphin, who led a session on financial literacy — showing students how simple tools and smart choices can set them up for a more secure future.
Can you tell us a bit about your role and the industry you work in?
I’m a wealth manager, which means I help people make decisions about money. Questions like, “Do I have enough money to retire?” or “How much is enough?” I help people generate investment growth or income in the most efficient way possible — and importantly, with the least amount of risk.
What path did you take to be in that role?
I wasn’t engaged in school and scraped just enough UCAS points to get into a sub-average University doing a subject I wasn’t interested in — Advertising.
But I realised I enjoyed economics. I read as much as I could and started sending applications to financial services firms. I had 36 rejection letters before someone finally gave me a chance.
What activity did you lead with the young people as part of STEM Week?
I ran a workshop on financial literacy, giving the students simple tools to avoid being irresponsible with money. We covered earning, spending, saving, and investing — and how to use those tools across their lives.
Do you have a favourite moment from the day?
Definitely when we talked about compounding. Seeing the “lightbulb” moment when students realised how small contributions could grow into something huge over time was brilliant.
What made you decide to volunteer for STEM Week?
I have a personal goal to help 10,000 underprivileged children become financially literate. I believe that having a few simple rules could make all the difference for a young person.
What impact do you hope your involvement had on the young people?
I asked them all to remember one simple rule. If that sticks, it could be enough to keep them out of debt and desperation. Even if just one student takes that forward, it will have been worthwhile.
How much time have you given?
I spent around three hours with the students over one morning.
Has volunteering had any unexpected benefits for you?
Yes — you’re told the kids might be disruptive, but I saw it differently. My brother has ADHD, and many of the behaviours were similar. They aren’t trying to be disruptive — they just need to be re-engaged in the right way. And when you do, they surprise you with how smart they are.
Why do you think it’s important for employers to get involved in schools?
Young people enter the workplace at a disadvantage. No skills, no experience, no qualifications, no capital. It can take years before their creativity shines. If employers engaged earlier, we could shorten that time and benefit from their ideas much sooner.
What would you say to other businesses considering getting involved in initiatives like this?
Just go for it! And don’t be discouraged if some don’t look like they’re listening. Patiently re-engage, and you’ll be surprised at how much they take in.
A Huge Thank You
A big thank you to Mathew Whitehouse and RBC Brewin Dolphin for equipping students with practical financial tools that could set them on the right path for years to come.
What’s Next? Opportunities for Employers to Get Involved
We’re now planning the next school year of activities, and we’d love to welcome more employers on board. Whether you’ve volunteered before or this would be your first time, your industry story could be the spark that shapes a young person’s career.
Upcoming opportunities in 2025/26 include:
Explore Your Future – Careers Carousel
Wednesday 19 November 2025, 9am – 1pm
We are looking for 12 employers/businesses to showcase their industry and run mock interviews
• Prep For Success – Mock Interviews
Wednesday 21 January 2026, 9am – 1pm
We are looking for a volunteer to run a preparation session around what to expect and how to prepare for
interviews
Wednesday 28 January 2026, 9am – 1pm
We are looking for 10 volunteers to run 15-minute mock interviews
• STEM in Action Week
The week of 22 – 26 June 2026
We are looking for 5 employers from STEM industries to showcase their sector, plus 5 employers/businesses to run mock interviews
If you’d like to get involved, please contact Pam Molyneux, Volunteer Special Enterprise Advisor - [email protected] We’d love to hear from you.
Building Futures Together
Money impacts every young person’s future, yet financial literacy is rarely taught in schools. Mathew’s session showed just how powerful one rule, one tool, or one spark of knowledge can be. Whether your expertise is finance, tech, construction, or the arts — your story could be the one that changes how a young person thinks about their tomorrow.
