Enough training talk - it is time to take action

I read with interest your recent round-table discussion on super-provincials (PB, June 2004). However, I was a little concerned to hear that almost all of the large provincial brokers represented felt they could and should be doing more on training. Paul Picknett of Groupama made an important point when he noted that brokers can no longer 'fish the company market' for well-trained staff, and - with Financial Services Authority regulation looming - must tackle the issue of training head on.

However, Peter Beddis of Beddis & Partners, does not merely encourage training but actually insists on it - leading to enhanced career progression and reduced staff turnover. Enlightened views like these are most encouraging and I hope that more brokers will adopt a similar stance.

It is clearly not enough for brokers to agree that more training would be desirable and suggest that perhaps insurers or industry representative bodies could do more to assist this process. With the FSA highlighting that "training and competence is a fundamental part of our regulatory regime", it seems clear that brokers themselves should be taking action now - as clearly some, like Beddis & Partners, already are - rather than waiting on a solution from elsewhere.

Ian Jerrum, Managing director, Searchlight Solutions.