Access FS academy proposition builds bright futures for aspiring advisers

02 August 2023

Leading mortgage and protection firm, Access Financial Services has announced the completion of its new academy proposition with the introduction of a comprehensive suite of CeMAP courses. Spearheaded by Peter Phillips, the firm's dedicated training manager, the enhanced academy aims to train and develop a new wave of advisers, bolstering the company's growth strategy.

Over the past year, Access FS has experienced remarkable growth, doubling its roster of advisers from 120 to 250. This continued expansion has been largely attributed to the success of its academy program, which has been instrumental in attracting new talent to the mortgage and protection industry.

The newly revamped academy now conducts monthly training sessions, with up to 18 participants in each group. The comprehensive curriculum includes CeMAP levels 1, 2, and 3, equipping advisers with essential knowledge and skills for success in the mortgage and protection sales arena.

Peter Phillips, with over two decades of industry experience, has been instrumental in designing the program. Working closely with senior management, Peter ensures that Access FS advisers receive the highest level of training and support, setting them up for excellence in their careers. The training encompasses all aspects of mortgage and protection products, providing expert advice and guiding advisers on how to develop a business of their own. It then delves deeper into mortgage sales, offering in-depth knowledge of CeMAP 1, 2, and 3, as well as specialist lending products.

Founder and CEO of Access Financial Services, Karl Wilkinson, expressed his enthusiasm commenting: "We are incredibly proud to announce the new Access Academy proposition as we look to build bright futures for our future advisers.

“Peter has been invaluable since joining us in February as we continue to enhance our offering to meet the demand of our academy signups.

“It is a great achievement for the firm to reach the 250 milestone, and we expect to have more than 300 advisers by the end of this year, while laying the groundwork to achieve 1,000 advisers over the next three years."

Access will initially introduce the new academy proposition to its protection-only team, along with any new advisers joining with a focus on protection. By giving its existing adviser team early access to the enhanced training program, Access aims to provide them with the first opportunity to benefit from the comprehensive CeMAP courses to set themselves up for further expansion and career growth.

This approach reflects Access FS's commitment to nurturing and developing existing talent, and ensuring their continued success in the industry with an initial focus on protection.

Wilkinson stressed the importance of protection in the industry, saying: "The protection gap is as large as ever, with 60 per cent of the country lacking life assurance, with many not even considering it until purchasing a house with a partner.
“We are bringing in aspiring advisers and training them to be knowledgeable in both protection and mortgage sales, ensuring clients always receive the best advice across our suite of protection and insurance products."

The academy's focus on CeMAP qualifications ensures that aspiring advisers are well-equipped to provide mortgage advice. The curriculum also covers core skill training, including sales, client base building, soft skills, and IT and systems training. The goal is to help advisers build long-lasting relationships with clients, with a dedication to providing lifetime value.

The CeMAP courses consist of three levels. Level 1 serves as the foundation, providing knowledge on products and regulations. After passing Level 1, advisers progress to Level 2 and 3, which focus on the mortgage market and protection. With the bespoke training courses designed by Peter, Access FS aims to achieve a completion rate of over 90 per cent, setting a new industry standard.

Peter Phillips shared his enthusiasm for the future, commenting: "I’m looking forward to the next six to twelve months. There is a lot of positive activity here at Access, and the focus is on growing the business."

He also revealed plans for the development of a learning management system to provide a flexible approach for new recruits with varying qualifications and experience levels. Additionally, refresher courses will be available to all of Access FS's 250 existing advisers nationwide.

With the dedicated training manager at their disposal, Access FS advisers enjoy unrivalled support in their professional journeys. In the last year, the firm has doubled its head office staff and introduced administrative support and paraplanning services for its advisers, solidifying its commitment to nurturing talent and fostering growth.

For more information about the Access Financial Services Academy and opportunities for aspiring advisers, please visit: http://academy.accessfs.co.uk