Finding and retaining the very best talent is a major challenge across every industry, but it is an issue that is particularly prevalent in financial services.
With technology continuing to revolutionise the financial sector, companies are facing a shortage of skilled workers.
Rapid changes in the finance industry, including new products and changing regulation, coupled with evolving digital technologies, cyber security and data analytics, all mean businesses must find effective ways to attract and keep skilled employees.
One way of doing this is by using apprenticeship levy funding to effectively reskill talent and to boost your learning and development budget (L&D).
Our webinar, held in conjunction with professional services and technology experts Davies Group, will explore:
Where skills gaps and talent pipeline shortages are likely to bite in financial services
What options are available to address future skills gaps – and what are the cost implications
How can apprenticeship levy and other government funding boost your L&D budgets effectively
The new world view - how government policy on the apprenticeship levy is likely to change and how best you can prepare
Our guests consist of:
Simon Ashworth - Director of Policy, Association of Employment & Learning Providers (AELP)
Simon is the senior responsible officer for policy development, stakeholder engagement and supporting members at AELP, a national membership body which represents around 800 organisations. ALEP’s members support thousands of businesses and millions of learners in England by delivering a wide range of training, vocational learning, and employability programmes. His role covers a wide range of complex issues on funding and policy.
At AELP, Simon leads a small, high-performing team responsible for policy, communications, projects, research, and public affairs.
He joined AELP in January 2017 and has worked in the further education and skills sector for over 20 years in a range of strategic and operational roles with different training providers and employers.
Kirsten Edmondson - Applications Manager, Axa Partners
Kirsten Edmondson has 30 years' experience creating more equitable workplaces and diverse teams. She is a recognised leader in fostering inclusive talent strategies and creating happy, well performing teams.
Kirsten has a been an advocate for diverse hiring long before DE&I became a must have for organisations. Her particular focus areas are supporting neurodiversity, gender diversity and socio-economic diverse talent in technology teams.
Louise Reed - Solutions Director – Future Skills, Reed Talent Solutions
Louise creates bespoke talent development programmes to overcome tech and digital skills gaps. This includes working with organisations to supercharge their existing workforce through upskilling and reskilling programmes as well as building skilled teams through recruit, train, deploy solutions, while accelerating equality, diversity, belonging and inclusion strategies, by breaking down barriers and opening doors to new careers regardless of background.
With over 20 years' experience of working in the recruitment industry, Louise partners with clients spanning multiple industries ranging from financial services and central government through to retail and healthcare, advising on, developing and delivering compelling talent acquisition and skills development strategies.
Craig Potter - Senior Partner - Professional Education, Davies Group
Craig has a passion for driving scalable and sustainable growth in global learning and development organisations, supporting and inspiring individuals to achieve their career aspirations through high quality professional education.
Craig has worked in the skills and professional education sector for over 15 years, working in senior leadership roles in further education colleges, awarding organisations, and independent training providers.
Having led Davies Professional Education for over seven years, Craig’s key highlights include driving growth in apprentice numbers from 300 to over 1,900 while in parallel strengthening quality and achieving Ofsted grade 2 in 2024.
Craig is also a member of the Chartered Insurance Institute Education & Learning Committee and the Insurance Institute of London Student Engagement Committee.
