12/05/2008 - Not-for-profit training & development Academy Launched
New Model Business Academy, launched by SimplyBiz on the 1st May, is a groundbreaking not for profit company dedicated to providing training and development to principals, advisers and all other employees of their member firms and Compliance First client firms.
The Academy will focus on assisting financial services professionals in four key areas of their personal and business development: professional qualifications, the ever-changing business model, sharing ideas and retirement and succession planning.
Steve Braidford, Managing Director of the Academy, commented:
“The objective of the Academy is to offer ‘something for everyone’, and I honestly can’t think of anyone within the financial services profession who would not benefit from one, if not all of the offerings. From new starters to those who are starting to wind down their practices, everyone who has an interest in positively developing a profitable, professional and successful business will reap their rewards from the New Model Business Academy.”
The professional qualifications area of the Academy will facilitate advisers in planning their examination route going forward and will include complimentary downloadable past papers and discounted deals on booking examinations and study guides. The ever changing model programme will offer guidance and training on how firms can evolve to maximise the potential of their business within the constantly changing world of financial services. The sharing ideas area will comprise of regular meetings throughout the country and a library of hundreds of suggested documents and ideas from other Academy members, both working to create an accessible network of shared successes and initiatives. Finally, the succession planning module is a long term programme for anyone who is planning to sell their business at some point in the future and will advise users on how to increase the profitability and ease the problems that can sometimes be involved with selling or being succeeded within a business.
Ian Thorneycroft, Managing Director of SimplyBiz, commented:
“The New Model Business Academy is committed to working with everyone involved in the financial services profession in a creative, innovative, fresh and exciting way which we believe will benefit them in the future. As a not for profit organisation, they can be assured of our absolute transparency and dedication to their long term personal development.”
Over two hundred and fifty users have registered for the Academy during the week since launch, and SimplyBiz plan to extend the option of membership to non-SimplyBiz Group firms within the next 18 months.