Yorkshire and the Humber
The Academy in this region is represented by the Lead Academic Provider Park lane College Leeds and Providers Craven College, Skipton, York College and Kaplan Financial .
The Shadow Regional Employer board includes representatives from Leeds Building Society, Yorkshire Bank, Norwich Union, Engage Mutual Assurance, HBOS, LSC, Yorkshire Forward, Leeds Financial Services Initiative and is chaired by Clive Leach of yfm group.
Currently the College Providers are looking to offer the suite of Apprenticeships/Advanced Apprenticeships to meet the needs of the organisations in the region (mainly banks, building society, insurance, contact centres and financial advice) with a progression route to the Financial Services Foundation Degree awarded by Leeds Metropolitan University. A pilot group of employees at Yorkshire Bank are undertaking the Advanced Apprenticeship qualification and Kaplan Financial are experienced providers of professional courses and are offering Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice and Certificate for Financial Advisers and looking to provide this technical element of the Apprenticeship framework.
The Regional Director is working to put in place a seamless progression route/career path to ensure Financial Services is the career of choice, examples include:-
• introducing young people from 14 years to financial literacy/capability with personal finance
• supporting the Consortium bid to offer the new Diploma in Business Administration and Finance from 2009.
• Gathering information on ‘role models’ to support careers information – Halifax Share Dealing, Leeds Building Society and First Direct have supported this initiative
• Working with Leeds Careers to include the NSAFS in the information provided to schools and careers staff