National Skills Academy for Financial Services celebrates successful first year » Communities » 24dash.com

Employers, training providers and learners have gathered today to celebrate the 1st anniversary of the National Skills Academy for Financial Services. 

David Lammy, Skills Minister joined Tony Vine-Lott, Chair of the National Skills Academy for Financial Services as well as representatives from the Financial Services Skills Council and the Lighthouse Group plc at Reuters to showcase all of their successes to date.

Since its launch the Skills Academy has already helped 3,000 learners achieve their goals and has had a hugely positive impact on the financial services sector as a whole.

With so much progress in the first year the National Skills Academy for Financial Services is improving the outlook for the industry on a daily basis.

The Skills Academy is working closely with financial services employers to ensure the availability of innovative, flexible and bespoke training solutions based on the requirements of individual employers – with the aim of delivering real job opportunities, not just qualifications on their own.

It is also helping to address the real need for better leadership and management in the sector – offering courses that equip employees with the skills to improve business performance.

Speaking at the event, Skills Minister David Lammy said: “I am delighted to celebrate the success that the National Skills Academy for Financial Services has had over the last year.

"This National Skills Academy is helping to ensure the future growth and success of the financial services industry in the UK by taking a new approach to spotting and developing industry talent.

I’d like to thank all the employers who are giving their support to the Skills Academy and helping to nurture talent in this vital industry.”

The National Skills Academy for Financial Services was developed to plug the long-standing skills gaps facing financial services employers – according to the latest National Employer Skills Survey (NESS) 19% of all financial services organisations reported skills gaps.

In particular, the Skills Academy is striving to improving the employability of young people and providing high-quality entry-level training as well as facilities to help continue to grow the skills of existing employees.

In its first year alone it reached out to all of these groups and delivered courses to 3,000 learners and these numbers are set to increase dramatically in the coming years. 

Tony Vine-Lott, Chair of the National Skills Academy for Financial Services said: “A Skills Academy in the financial services sector is vital not only to help attract new entrants, but to improve the skills of the current workforce.

"In these difficult times it is more important than ever to ensure that our people are equipped with the skills needed to respond to new challenges and I relish the opportunity to continue developing innovative skills and development solutions for our sector.”

The National Skills Academy for Financial Services continues to develop its infrastructure and portfolio of education, skills and training programmes - enabling it to reach even more people across the UK.

This year it is rolling out the new financial services apprenticeships at foundation and advanced levels, designed to create the workforce for the future.

Malcolm Streatfield, CEO Lighthouse Group plc said: “Getting involved in this National Skills Academy has been a great success and has helped us to meet our own business objectives by improved leadership and management skills throughout the organisation.

"Our employees and customers are already seeing the benefits of our involvement, through better communication and interaction among staff and management.”

National Skills Academies have been created to solve specific and potentially acute skills shortages in their respective sectors, enabling employers, government and other stakeholders to design more effective solutions to training needs.

There are now nine approved National Skills Academies, representing real progress towards the Government’s target of having a Skills Academy in each major sector by the end of 2011.