The Leasing Foundation has called for the leasing industry to be "demystified" and to create clear, educational routes to careers in leasing and asset finance.
In a consultation paper, Education for Asset Finance: New routes to recognition, professionalism and reward, the governors of the not-for-profit organisation have set out their ambitions for developing education in the leasing industry and asked for feedback from stakeholders to start a "serious and sustained debate" on the subject.
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The paper highlights the concern of the Foundation, expressed by John Hooper, executive director UK, National Australia Group Europe and Foundation governor, that "no one ever chose asset finance as a career," and its intention to develop education programmes that "open up, and sustain, a talent pipeline."
In the introduction to the paper, governors Andrew Denton, Peter Thomas and Rob Macredie said: "We need to provide routes into leasing and asset finance careers – in the broadest sense – that demystify the industry and open up career options thus ensuring a continual flow of talent to regenerate the industry."
The governors said the industry needs to build a framework for education, training and development which makes professionalism "accessible and visible inside and outside the industry – both to signal that the industry is committed to professionalisation, but also to develop and retain the best people in the industry."
The governors also said whatever role the Foundation would take in education it should "complement and enhance" existing provision.
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By GlobalDataThe paper presents four options for how an educational system can be developed including introducing an qualification below the level of the Finance & Leasing Association’s and IFS School of Finance’s diploma course, apprenticeship programmes, follow-on qualifications for those that have completed the FLA/IFS courses and MBA-level programmes.
The paper also looks at how technology can be harnessed to make educational programmes easier to set up and less costly.
The Foundation has invited feedback on all the suggestions and questions raised in the paper and will meet with organisations and industry stakeholders to discuss to issue.
