Recent updates to the apprenticeship funding rules bring several important changes that will impact how employers manage and support their apprentices. These changes aim to improve clarity, streamline processes, and ensure apprenticeships remain high-quality and compliant. Here’s a summary of the key updates and what they mean for employers:

What employers should do now

• Review internal processes to ensure OTJ planning aligns with the new rules
• Communicate with line managers about their role in functional skills decisions
• Notify DAS promptly of any organisational changes
• Stay informed about EPA reform and prepare for future updates

Big changes are coming to the Level 3 Financial Services Administrator Apprenticeship Standard—and we’re here to help you navigate them.

Join us on Tuesday 16th September at 1:00 PM for a focused webinar that will walk you through the revised programme, including:

• Updates to the knowledge, skills, and behaviours
• A refreshed end-point assessment
• Changes to the mandated professional qualification.

We’ll also share how Davies is adapting its delivery to support these changes from November and provide clarity on final enrolment dates for the current programme.

Whether you’re currently working with apprentices or planning future starts, this session will give you the insight you need to make informed decisions. Secure your place today!

To meet and exceed these expectations, it’s essential to invest in the development of your people. Whether you’re nurturing those new to industry, career changers or enhancing the skills of your existing staff, these apprenticeships provide the technical expertise, regulatory understanding, and client-focused skills needed to thrive in today’s financial landscape.

The Level 4 Financial Planner Apprenticeship and Level 4 Paraplanner Apprenticeship are designed to equip aspiring professionals with the advanced skills, technical knowledge, and client-centric mindset needed to thrive in modern financial services. Upon completion of the apprenticeship, learners will also achieve the CII Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning—an industry-recognised qualification that supports progression into financial planning and paraplanner roles.

Coming soon, Thrive will also feature:

• Thumbnails for each sessions
• A contents page, objectives, and chapters
• Recordings of live sessions to build a growing, on-demand library

👉 Bite-sized CII workshops

Don’t forget—we also host regular Path to Success and Ask the Expert LIVE events, to support your learners’ skills development and professional qualification support.

Upcoming Professional Qualification Workshops

*All workshop dates are subject to change due to the number of registered attendees*

Path to Success and Ask the Expert

Davies’ Path to Success (PTS) Workshops for learners and Ask the Expert (ATE) LIVE webinars focus on power skills and transferable skills and include sessions on:

• Becoming more efficient through time management
• Breaking down exam questions
• Becoming you

Path to Success sessions run on three Fridays each month and support learner development above and beyond the professional qualification. They can also be included as additional Off-the-Job time for the apprenticeship programme. If you would like to know more, please reach out to DLSworkshops@davies-group.com.

Your learners can sign up here for Ask the Expert Live Sessions and here for Path to Success Sessions

We’re excited to officially introduce to you Bespoke Training Solutions (BTS) who joined Davies late last year, bringing with them over two decades of expertise in regulated financial services training. Since the integration, BTS has been working closely with Davies Professional Education to align their award-winning programmes, allowing clients to benefit from a structured, learner-centric approach, driving real results and providing your workforce with access to the very best in professional development.

• Expert-written study guides
• Interactive e-learning modules
• Live remote workshops and webinars
• Supported Professional Qualification Study Routes
• Digital specimen exams via web or the BTS Study Buddy app

Ready to elevate your workforce?

Explore more about BTS and how our training solutions can support your team:

Designed to accelerate development and help learners complete their CII qualifications more efficiently, our refreshed solutions offer flexible, targeted support tailored to individual needs and business goals. Whether you’re looking to upskill new starters or fast-track existing talent, our programmes are built to deliver impact.

What’s new?

• Structured learning pathways aligned to CII modules
• Expert-led support to boost confidence and exam readiness
• Flexible options to suit different roles and learning styles
• Clear progression routes to complement internal development plans

You can explore the full offering on our website.

If you’d like to discuss how this could benefit your team, please get in touch with your dedicated Client Success Manager.

Launching  this Autumn, this 9-month guided learning experience is designed specifically for entry-level talent looking to build a strong foundation in the insurance industry. Whether you’re just starting out or supporting new team members, this programme offers the structure, support, and expert insight needed to succeed. By enrolling your employees, you’re investing in their future and strengthening your business with skilled, certified professionals.

What’s included?

• Structured learning: 3 learning modules featuring Study Solutions and 13 bitesize professional qualification workshops to deepen understanding and boost exam readiness
• Expert support: 9 coach check-ins for personalised guidance and motivation
• 9 months access to Study Solutions and Ask the Expert.
• Qualification ready: 120 Days of Study Buddy Access for the first Cert CII Module (IF1 or LM1), including 4 sets of mock questions
• Flexible & ongoing: Monthly start dates, hosted on BTS’ LMS

The outcome?

✅ Workforce development and Cert CII completed with confidence

✅ Access to knowledge from industry-experienced tutors and coaches

✅ Structured, expert-led support for your emerging talent

👉 Find out more and start your journey today

This landmark publication offers a forward-looking view of the UK’s workforce needs and is especially relevant for employers within financial services who are navigating rapid technological, regulatory, and market change. Given its significance, I’ve dedicated this article to exploring the report’s key findings and what they mean for your workforce strategy.

Preparing for the future: What  employers in financial services need to know from Skills England’s 2030 Skills Report

The Assessment of Priority Skills to 2030 outlines the UK’s evolving labour market, forecasting the creation of 900,000 new priority jobs by 2030 and identifying the skills essential to fill them. For financial services firms, the report provides both a challenge and a roadmap for future-proofing talent.

Key highlights from the report

• Priority job growth of 15% by 2030, with strong demand in digital, engineering, and care sectors
• Two-thirds of priority roles will require level 4+ qualifications, highlighting the need for advanced training and education
• Financial services roles are increasingly high-skilled, with 73% now requiring advanced capabilities in technology, analysis, and leadership
• 24% of vacancies are hard to fill, often due to misalignment between training provision and employer needs

Strategic implications for employers within financial services

The sector is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by fintech innovation, AI adoption, and evolving customer expectations. Employers must respond by rethinking how they attract, develop, and retain talent.

1. Invest in technical upskilling

Focus on high-growth areas such as AI, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and data analytics. These capabilities are becoming central to operational success, risk management, and regulatory compliance.

2. Strengthen transferable skills

Leadership, communication, and adaptability are increasingly vital. These skills complement technical expertise and support innovation, collaboration, and resilience in fast-changing environments.

3. Explore co-creation of tailored programmes

Partnering with education and training providers to co-develop programmes can help ensure that learning is aligned with real-world business needs.

4. Support flexible and inclusive learning pathways

Encourage apprenticeships, modular and stackable qualifications and mid-career reskilling. This builds more agile workforces and opens up opportunities for diverse talent pools, including those returning to work or transitioning from other sectors.

5. Plan for AI and automation

Anticipate how roles will evolve and ensure your workforce is equipped to adapt. This includes both technical training and ethical awareness around AI deployment and decision-making.

Phil Smith, Chair of Skills England, describes this report as “a decisive opportunity to reshape how we prepare for the future of work.” For employers within the financial services sector, the message is clear: strategic investment in skills, both technical and human, is essential. By acting now, employers can build a resilient, future-ready workforce that thrives in a changing landscape.

I expect the above will resonate with many of the approaches you’re already embedding in your workforce planning strategies. If nothing else, it serves as a timely and valuable reminder of the direction of travel and the importance of staying ahead.

With this in mind, we are hosting an employer roundtable on 8th October, 8:30am to 11:00am, titled: ‘Adapt or Be Outpaced: AI’s Challenge to Insurance’. If you are interested in attending, please contact , Emma.Fenton@Davies-group.com. Invitations will be circulated soon. This session will be a valuable opportunity to:

• Build a clearer understanding of how AI can be harnessed within your business
• Learn from peer experiences, progress, and challenges
• Identify the skills needed to leverage AI effectively

I look forward to seeing many of you there and to share insights from the roundtable in our next edition.

  Craig Potter