thewealthnet

Unusual sabbatical requests – ‘My employee is on Love Island’….

Katie Royals, 17/06/2022

Picture credit: ITV

Love Island viewers from the wealth management industry may have pricked up their ears this week when new arrival Jay Younger said he is an investment analyst.

thewealthnet took a look and – unlike some contestants who ‘embellish’ their careers as models, actors and musicians – Mr Younger is in fact an investment analyst at boutique Edinburgh-based firm Aubrey Capital Management. He joined the firm over four years ago, having graduated from Heriott Watt university with an economics degree.

Andrew Ward, chief executive and director at Aubrey, said “it was certainly one of the most unusual sabbatical requests [the firm] has had ever”.

However, he stressed the firm is fully behind Mr Younger and is very supportive of his decision.

“You cannot stand in the way of young people and their bucket lists.”

Although the initial request was a surprise, Mr Ward said it fits with a lot of Mr Younger’s interests. Outside of work, he is very into sport and fitness, having been a GB athlete as a junior.

“We see [Love Island] almost as an extension of something he has been interested in for some considerable time,” Mr Ward explained.

While Love Island have very strict rules about contestants disclosing they are going on the show in advance, the firm has known for a couple of weeks and has therefore had time to prepare.

Mr Younger has taken unpaid leave while he is in the Love Island villa but remains an employee of Aubrey Capital Management. While it is unknown how long he will last as a contestant, the firm have covered his duties until around mid-August.

It is not just the firm itself that has been supportive.

Mr Ward said overall clients have been very supportive too so far.

“We have received nothing but good wishes for Jay and the firm,” he stressed. It probably helps that Mr Younger is "the nicest guy out there", according to Mr Ward.

He is also not worried about the reputational risks of having an employee on a reality dating show.

“There are risks in anything anyone does outside of work,” Mr Ward noted. Mr Younger is not representing Aubrey on the show and his actions are separated from the firm.

Allowing employees to do things they are interested in outside of work is important to Mr Ward.

Whatever someone wants to do – whether it is row the Atlantic, follow their sporting passions, or even go on Love Island – part of being a supportive employer is allowing them to pursue their dreams outside of work, Mr Ward stressed.

In fact, Mr Ward made the comparison with someone wanting to row the Atlantic. 

"They would be gone a similar amount of time."

Regardless of the passion, “if that is what the person wants to do, then hopefully as a positive and supportive employer, that is what we will encourage them to do, knowing they will come back to work with a smile on their face.

“We are really chuffed that he has been able to go and do something that he clearly felt he wanted to do. It is great to be able to enable staff to do these sort of things.”

As to Mr Younger’s chances on Love Island, Mr Ward believes he has the potential to do very well, and maybe even win the show. Although he declined to comment on who he thinks Mr Younger will couple up with.

“[Mr Younger] is a very sharp analyst.

“I cannot comment at all on how he is playing it now. But I know he will have gone into the villa with a plan and he will be executing that plan.”

And as all investment managers know, diversification is key. It is unlikely we will see Mr Younger put all his eggs in one basket too early on…

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