Articles Library

WHY TRAINING MATTERS MORE THAN EVER IN A DOWNTURN (The Broker - October 2008)
In uncertain economic times like these, we all need to tighten our belts somehow. In the past, lean times have often seen brokers cut their training budgets. But there are good reasons for thinking that now is precisely the wrong time to cut corners on training... [See full text]

BESPOKE e-LEARNING IN THE FINANCIAL SERVICES SECTOR (July 2008)
My company specialises in training services for the financial services sector generally - and the insurance industry in particular. We have seen a marked shift in training and development spending in this market over the last few years from face to face to e-learning. To some extent this is simply the result of the increasing maturity and availability of suitable e-learning.. [See full text]

TRAINING & COMPETENCE (Brokers' Monthly - May 2008)
The FSA's Training and Competence (T&C) regime is taking a while to bed in. But it is becoming increasingly clear that in key areas like Treating Customers Fairly (TCF), failure to train staff adequately could well be causing severe headaches for brokers in the not too distant future... [See full text]

THE ROLE OF ASSESSMENT IN THE TRAINING PROGRAMME (T&C News - January 2008)
The first step towards making an informed training investment is to identify the training and development needs of your staff. Getting value for money from any investment in training depends essentially on how well you understand what you are buying... [See full text]

TRAINING IS ABOUT QUALITY NOT QUANTITY (Insurance Age - January 2008)
The introduction of FSA regulation appears to have had a strange effect on brokers' attitudes to training. With the incoming regulator clearly flagging training and competence as a key area of concern - John Tiner called it "a fundamental part of our regulatory regime" - many brokers decided they needed to do something - and fast!.. [See full text]

FSA's NEW TRAINING & COMPETENCE REGIME (T&C News - October 2007)
On 1 November 2007 the FSA's new Training and Competence regime comes into effect. This involves the introduction of a new and significantly shorter version of the Training and Competence Sourcebook (TC Sourcebook) which will apply to retail business only. Under the new rules the detailed T&C requirements for wholesale businesses will be dropped... [See full text]

DON'T LOSE SIGHT OF FACE TO FACE (Broker's Monthly - August 2007)
Those of us who provide training services to the insurance sector have witnessed a disturbing change over the past few years: brokers and insurers in ever growing numbers are turning to e-learning to train their staff!.. [See full text]

DON'T LOSE SIGHT OF FACE TO FACE - PART 2 (T&C News - August 2007)
In the second part of a two-part article first published in T&C News in August 2007 Ian Jerrum considers the pros and cons of e-learning and face to face training and proposes a balanced approach..... [See full text]

DON'T LOSE SIGHT OF FACE TO FACE - PART 1 (T&C News - August 2007)
In an article first published in T&C News in August 2007 Ian Jerrum considers the pros and cons of e-learning and face to face training and proposes a balanced approach... [See full text]

TRAINING & COMPETENCE: WHAT DOES THE FSA REQUIRE? (Insurance Age - January 2007)
In an article originally published in Insurance Age in January 2007 Ian Jerrum considers what the regulator expects in terms of training and competence provision from insurance firms... [See full text]

INSURANCE E-LEARNING IN PRACTICE - PART 2 (Post Magazine - Summer 2006)
In the second of two articles originally published in Post Magazine in Summer 2006 Ian Jerrum continues his review of how e-learning is being put into practice within the UK insurance industry.. [See full text]

INSURANCE E-LEARNING IN PRACTICE - PART 1 (Post Magazine - Summer 2006)
In an article originally published in Post Magazine in August 2006 Ian Jerrum looks at how e-learning is being put into practice within the UK insurance industry... [See full text]

ASSESSING COMPETENCE (Insurance Times - October 2006)
Assessing the competence of employees is an essential part of complying with the FSA's training and competence requirements, Ian Jerrum examines the practicalities of this important task... [See full text]

JOB DESCRIPTIONS - THE T&C IMPLICATIONS (Insurance Times - October 2006)
In the first of a series of articles looking at the steps insurance firms should take to ensure compliance with the FSA's training and competence requirements, Ian Jerrum of looks at the topic of job descriptions. First published in Insurance Times October 2006... [See full text]

RECRUITMENT IN A REGULATED ENVIRONMENT - PART 2 (T&C News - Summer 2006)
In the second part of an article first published in T&C News in Summer 2006 Peter Farmer looks at the issue of recruiting staff in a regulated environment... [See full text]

RECRUITMENT IN A REGULATED ENVIRONMENT - PART 1 (T&C News - Summer 2006)
In an article first published in T&C News in Summer 2006 Peter Farmer looks at the issue of recruiting staff in a regulated environment... [See full text]

BROKER TRAINING CASE STUDY
As a team leader with Epping-based brokers J&M Insurance, Prakash Sudra is responsible for a team of eight people handling incoming calls in the company's service centre. One aspect of his role is to supervise the induction and ongoing training of his team. The following article looks at his experience with both face-to-face training and e-learning in ensuring staff competence and driving business efficiency within the J&M service centre... [See full text]

INSURANCE T&C ISSUES ONE YEAR ON FROM FSA REGULATION - PART 2 (T&C News - January 2006)
In part two of an article first published in T&C News in January 2006 Peter Farmer considers how UK insurance brokers have adapted their approach to Training and Competence in response to the FSA's new regulatory regime... [See full text]

INSURANCE T&C ISSUES ONE YEAR ON FROM FSA REGULATION - PART 1 (T&C News - January 2006)
In an article first published in T&C News in January 2006 Peter Farmer considers how UK insurance brokers have adapted their approach to Training and Competence in response to the FSA's new regulatory regime... [See full text]

TIME FOR BROKERS TO TRAIN THEIR SIGHTS ON COMPETENCE (Post Magazine - November 2005)
In an article first published in Post Magazine in November 2005 Ian Jerrum asks whether brokers are ready to back up the T&C undertakings made in their FSA submissions... [See full text]

T&C UPDATE (The Broker - Autumn 2005)
In an article first published in The Broker in Autumn 2005 Ian Jerrum offers an overview of Training and Competence issues as they currently affect UK brokers... [See full text]

TRAINING & COMEPTENCE IN A NEWLY REGULATED ENVIRONMENT - PART 2 (T&C News - March 2005)
Insurance firms spent the 2004 Christmas period nervously anticipating the advent of FSA regulation. In an article first published in T&C News in March 2005 Ian Jerrum considers how this has affected thier T&C responsibilities in practice... [See full text]

TRAINING & COMEPTENCE IN A NEWLY REGULATED ENVIRONMENT - PART 1 (T&C News - March 2005)
Insurance firms spent the 2004 Christmas period nervously anticipating the advent of FSA regulation. In an article first published in T&C News in March 2005 Ian Jerrum considers how this has affected thier T&C responsibilities in practice... [See full text]

TRAINING ISSUES UNDER FSA REGULATION (Insurance Age - October 2004)
In the following article originally published in Insurance Age in October 2004 Ian Jerrum considers the implications of the FSA's new regulatory regime for UK insurance brokers... [See full text]