The document outlines the North West Region Strategy and Plan for 2009/10 of the National Skills Academy for Financial Services (NSAFS). The key goals are to: 1) Deliver 1150 learners through approved training providers and courses. 2) Increase availability of education, skills, and training for new entrants, existing workers, and returners to the financial services industry. 3) Ensure long term sustainability of the Academy through business engagement, learner growth, and diversified funding sources.

1. FINANCIAL SERVICES North West Region Strategy and Plan for 2009/10

2. Why does NSAFS North West exist? What are we here to do? Vision : To ensure that the UK has a better educated financial services workforce. Mission : To be the leading body for the development and delivery of education, skills and training solutions for the financial services sector. Key deliverable for 2009 / 2010 : Deliver 1150 learners through our Providers and courses.

3. We have built an integrated model to achieve our goals . . . Financial Capability for All Wholesale Banking Insurance Life Assurance & Pensions Admin. 3 rd Party Admin. Investment Management Financial Advice Our vision is to ensure the UK has a better educated financial services workforce by being the leading body for the development & delivery of education, skills and training solutions for the financial services sector Target New entrants to work Returners to work Experienced, but new entrants to the FS industry Existing Workforce Products Providers Employers Full time study levels 2 - 5 Earn and learn levels 2 - 5 Technical/professional quals . Bespoke leadership and management qualifications Financial capability and money management Skills Solutions (Lead) Liverpool Community College The Oldham College St Helens College West Cheshire College Retail Banking Build the Brand to achieve our objectives

4. Our deliverables are based around 5 key strategic themes: Be a demand & employer led organisation Board members represent financial sub sectors. Increase the availability of new entrants Ensure long term sustainability Improve the quality of training undertaken Increase in education, skills & training available Employers receiving direct training. We can evidence business benefits. We see a growth in sponsorship. Demonstrate a variety and range of courses. Increase our learner numbers. Grow our Network of providers. Improve qualification success rates. Evidence of business benefits. Learners showing interest in employment in the financial services industry. Prepare cost structure for value for money. Increase income levels to cover costs. Grow Apprenticeships. Grow foundation degrees and diplomas. Grow our young learner numbers. Grow non-traditional entrant numbers. Grow financial capability programme.

5. We want to deliver 1150 new learners in 2010. But that’s not all. For this year, we want to: Look for 685 new learners to the industry and up skill 465 learners from the existing workforce. Have a full Regional Employer Board in place to drive the Academy forward. Hear that Employers are positive about their experience with the Academy and are keen for more. Have pass rates that exceed government expectations. Ensure that our suppliers work well in partnership and surpass our learner and employer requirements. Build a pathway and financial plan for long term sustainability.

6. Our target market consists of 3 key areas: Bringing new talent, both young and not so young, to the financial services industry. Up skilling our existing talent within the industry. Ensuring everyone has access to building their own financial capability.

7. There are 5 key product provisions: Apprenticeships Leadership and Management Foundation Degrees (coming online in 2010) New entrant full time courses Financial capability In total there are 14 programmes available to choose from across our region – and growing.

8. We have 5 providers on board: All providers offer courses to employers. Our colleges provide all new entrant training. Skills Solutions offers apprenticeships and other Providers are coming online in September. We have a robust approval process for new Providers, nationally approved. Key for 2009 / 2010: We need to put formal procedures in place to measure Provider qualitative success, led from the centre. We need a provider in Lancashire. Lead Providers: Skills Solutions Other Providers: Liverpool Community College, The Oldham College, St Helens College, West Cheshire College

9. Driving employer engagement is critical to our success. Bringing new employers to the Academy. How do we get more employers engaged in learning . . . and through the Academy? Employer engagement plan being built. Board will play a key role in its delivery. ‘ The Apprenticeship programme with the NSAFS/FCT is going extremely well. The Apprentices have impacted on the existing staff, with a number enquiring if they can be given the opportunity to complete an apprenticeship; CII exam interest and pass rates have also increased significantly due partly to the apprenticeship influence.’ Diane Armstrong, OPS Training Manager, AON Limited

10. We need to develop our brand to deliver our objectives. The brand is nationally driven, with a PR company on board. Regionally we are keen to promote through local media, with ‘good news’ stories promoting the Academy and employers. Providers must market the Academy through their courses. We need to engage the Region’s networks to promote the Academy, again key role for the Board.

11. The Academy is part of a wider network of stakeholders. FSA Learners Experienced but new entrants to FS sector Existing Workforce Returners to Work Financial Capability for All New Entrants to Work Financial Services Sector Skills Council Government funding bodies and agencies Employers N ational S kills A cademy for F inancial S ervices ~ Sets the standards for the curriculum ~ Providing demand Learning and Skills Council Regional Development Agencies European funding Department of Business, Innovation and Skills

12. How do we become financially sustainable? The Academy costs £122,100 each year in the North West Region The equivalent of approx. 2,000 Academy learners The key sources of funding are: Income from Academy learners. Funding for ‘special’ projects. Employer sponsorship Funding is in place at the moment: Central funding will last until the end of 2010. North West Regional Director role part-funded until March 2010.

13. What are we looking for from the Regional Board? Determine the direction of the Academy in the region. Ensure the Academy is meeting local and regional employer skills needs. Bring their skills and talents to help the Academy achieve its goals. Oversee the performance of the Academy in the region. Champion the Academy to other employers and stakeholders.

14. Where are we right now? Approximately 500 learners currently using the Skills Academy in the North West. Nearly 100 employers receiving direct training intervention from the Skills Academy in the North West Further funding secured to support financial literacy training. Learning offer for employers defined. Labour Market Information commissioned and developed. Regional Employer Board established. Three new Providers approved to network. Business Plan and Strategic Plan developed. KPI’s and targets agreed.

15. What are our plans for action? Increase learner numbers. Increase employer engagement Finalise Provider network. Agree performance monitoring mechanisms. Continue to raise the profile of the Academy in the region. Become financially sustainable

16. What are our plans for action? Objectives Actions Milestones Increase Learner Numbers Work with providers to promote programmes to both learners and employers Support providers to increase capacity 2009/10 – 1150 learners 2010/11 – 1655 learners 2011/12 – 2570 learners Increase Employer Involvement Develop and implement Employer Engagement Strategy 10 Employers on REB by end 2009 2009/10 – 100 employers receiving direct training intervention 2010/11 – 125 employers receiving direct training intervention 2011/2012 – 175 employers receiving direct training intervention 60% of employers to be SME Finalise Provider Network Identify appropriate provider for Lancashire Identify appropriate provider for Cumbria Explore the need for any ‘specialised’ providers Provider Network to be fully in place by July 2010

17. What are our plans for action? Objectives Actions Milestones Agree Performance Monitoring Mechanisms Liaise with Head Office Mechanisms to be identified by end 2009 Continue to Raise Profile of Academy Events Networking Membership of appropriate Bodies Tactical Marketing Joint Branding Employer Dinner to be held by September 2009 Attendance of at least one networking event per month Membership of appropriate bodies to be confirmed by October 2009 North West Academy event to be held by June 2010 All providers to joint brand programmes and marketing by end 2009 Regular press releases for region Become Financially Sustainable Learner Numbers Other Funding Capital Programme Sponsorship