FCI webinar on impact of COVID-19 outbreak on supply chains – register now!

Today is the last day to register for the FCI webinar on the impact of COVID-19 on supply chain markets which is taking place on Thursday.

While providing insights into the current state of factoring market, this webinar will additionally enable the attendees to:

• understand the COVID-19 Impact on supply chain finance providers,
• evaluate the status for sellers, buyers (SMEs in particular), financial institutions and credit insurers,
• identify the financing solutions required to roll the wheel of the supply chain after the markets pick up steam,
• pinpoint the remedies and recommendations on how to manage the negative impacts.

The webinar is free of charge but registration is mandatory latest today on FCI website.

Distance learning programmes – invoice finance and asset based lending

Learning Team – UK Finance

Distance Learning Courses

We provide three types of distance learning courses via our Learning Management System.

• The Foundation Course – an introduction to the basics of the industry
• The Certificate Course – in-depth knowledge into specific key industry areas
• The Diploma Course – a recognised industry qualification

Foundation Course, available all year

Duration: Between 4 weeks and 3 months (depending on industry experience)
Price: Members and Associate Members £299 + VAT / Non members £399 + VAT
The foundation course is the first level of the UK Finances IFABL distance learning programme

The Certificate Course is a natural continuation from the Foundation Course and provides a solid base for the Diploma Course. The course is an industry-wide recognised professional qualification. To achieve the full certification you must complete the three core modules plus an additional three.

Certificate Course (6 modules) or select individual modules below, available all year
Price (6 modules): Members and Associate Members £750 + VAT / Non members £1,100 + VAT | Price (individual module): Members and Associate Members £175 + VAT / Non members £200 + VAT

Core Modules Additional Modules

• The Asset Based Finance Landscape
• Fraud & Risk
• Legal Aspects
• Audit & Survey
• Client Management
• Financial Analysis
• Insolvency
• International Invoice Finance
• The Sales Process

Diploma Course (modules, available on selected dates)

Registration for modules take place in April, June and December. There are a number of modules to enable students to develop a thorough understanding of the industry including:

• Financial Understanding (£700 + VAT / April 2020)
• Operational Aspects of Asset Based Lending (£450 + VAT / June 2020)
• Operational Aspects of Invoice Finance (£450 + VAT / June 2020)
• Legal Aspects of Asset Based Lending (£450 + VAT / December 2020)
• Legal Aspects of Invoice Finance (£450 + VAT / December 2020)

2020 Ttraining and events: Click here for a printable PDF of our courses or visit our events online.

Applications open for annual ethnic minority pitch competition

Innovative businesses from Ethnic Minority backgrounds have the chance to present their big ideas in front of global brands and investors through the MSDUK Innovation Challenge 2020.

In this year’s theme, ‘Better Ideas for a Better World’, social innovation, future tech and sustainability all feature highly. The challenge aims to spotlight the best innovators across a wide range of sectors and technologies, including AI, Business Disruption, Sustainable Cities and Consumer Health.

Now in its fourth year, the Innovation Challenge was set up by MSDUK as part of its year-round programme of initiatives designed to fight underepresentation of ethnic minorities in the global supply chain.

Through this challenge, MSDUK breaks down barriers to entry for young start-ups, entrepreneurs and high-growth EMBs from all sectors by providing direct access to a range of highly influential corporate sponsors. Committed to investing in a diverse supply chain, the headline sponsor is Cummins, and other sponsors include GSK, Digital Catapult, Eaton, EY and Accenture. The prizes are cash injections for the winning idea, business scholarships, and mentoring, which will give the finalists the boost they need to develop their big ideas into successful businesses.

Describing his goal for the theme of this year’s Innovation Challenge, MSDUK Founder Mayank Shah said: “We are setting the bar for this year’s entrants very high because we believe that only through greater supplier diversity can our global partners find innovative solutions to the problems of tomorrow.”

“Like every other business entrepreneur in the 21st Century, the EMBs that succeed will be those that bring about social change through innovative ideas and technologies. After last year’s truly inspiring array of ideas, I am excited to see what the current crop of EMB social entrepreneurs can bring to the table.”

Full details of the challenge including an entry form can be found here: https://www.msduk.org.uk/innovation-challenge/

The deadline for entries is 29th May 2020. The ten finalists chosen by the judges will take part in a live pitching final, to be held in London on 23rd September 2020.

Biggest brands in franchising to attend Superbrand

A hub for established brands across the globe, Superbrand will be returning on May 13th at the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET), London, UK. Now in its third year and ran by the British Franchise Association (bfa)  Superbrand has attracted some of the world’s largest franchisors and most successful multi-unit, multi-brand franchisees, and has become a core event in the franchising calendar. It is an ideal opportunity for household names to connect, learn and broaden their global aspirations.

Following on from the success of 2019, Superbrand will continue its winning formula of splitting the day across three concurrent zones, all of which cater to specific needs of the attendees.

Superbrand is for UK franchisors and will explore the unique challenges of scaling up a brand, as well as moving a UK franchise model into international markets.

UK Developer is for international franchisors, and will delve into the feasibility of expanding into the UK marketplace, the UK legal framework and recruiting franchisees.

Franchisee Investor is designed for entrepreneurial franchisees, and will provide advice on expanding a portfolio, ensuring a good return on investment, and developing and managing teams.

Pip Wilkins, CEO of the bfa, stated: “Superbrand was created for people who are serious about growing their brand and portfolio through franchising. We have refined the event since its launch in 2018 to provide bespoke content for household franchise brands, international franchisors and franchisee entrepreneurs.

“It is a hub for global visionaries and will be providing advice, guidance and inspiration from keynote speakers, industry leaders and experienced franchisors and franchisees. We look forward to gathering the world’s finest in franchising to share experiences, provide solutions, and make expansion dreams a reality.”

As well as bespoke breakouts in each zone, there will also be two keynote speakers, and a panel style discussion with franchisors from across the globe to maximise the learnings from the day.

To find out more about the event and to book tickets, visit www.thebfa.org

TMA NOW celebrates International Women’s Day early!

TMA NOW hosted a breakfast panel discussion on “Female Leadership: Strength in Numbers”.

The fantastic panel (Leonora Daniel, global head recovery management at Credit Suisse International, Lisa Rickelton, managing director at FTI Consulting and Fiona Hathorn, CEO of Women on Boards UK) discussed their thoughts on women in leadership and women’s initiatives by drawing on their own personal challenges and successes. The audience got involved by asking questions to the panel and taking part in some thought-provoking polls. TMA NOW committee members, Emily Scaife and Julie Sachot, co-chaired the panel discussion and TMA NOW chair, Tayyibah Arif, introduced the event and spoke about TMA NOW’s empowerment and inclusivity aims.

Over 50 people attended and everyone enjoyed networking over breakfast before the panel discussion started.

Guests said:

“The panel of speakers were very inspiring”

“I thought the speakers were honest and open and there was some very thought provoking discussions and meaningful tips which I will take away from it”

“I really enjoyed it and left feeling inspired and wondering how to make changes in (my firm)”

TMA NOW’s mission is to help connect the industry’s leading women, provide opportunities for leadership development and improve networking skills. Details of the next event will be made available in due course.

Thank you to the host and sponsor, Burges Salmon LLP.

Former teachers take control of their careers

In April 2019, an investigation by the National Education Union shed light on the high percentage of teachers turning their backs on the education industry. With continued budget cuts, increased workload and mounting pressures from OFSTED inspectors and parents alike, it’s no wonder a whopping 32,375 new teachers have left the state school system in the last five years alone.

The study is based on responses from 86,000 school staff – more than a quarter of which (26%) admit they intend on leaving the sector in the next five years. But what career options lay ahead of those who might have spent 20+ years stood in front of a classroom of students?

Former education professionals come with a whole host of attributes required to run a profitable and successful business, something these individuals are quickly wising up to. Edouard Wood’s experience in teaching has benefited his future entrepreneurial endeavours in more ways than one. Having now launched a franchise with children’s multi award-winning music education company, The Strings Club, he is able to draw from his 20 years’ experience as a violin teacher.

“I’d worked in a freelance capacity for a number of years before starting my own franchise last summer, so although I had a good idea of what it takes to work for yourself, the franchise model really suits my lifestyle. The level of support I get from my franchisor is invaluable,” said Edouard. “There’s less of this ‘us and them’ mentality that you come across so often in teaching. My business is growing steadily and I’m confident that the earning potential will far outweigh what I’d earned when I was teaching on my own.”

Tutor Doctor franchisee, Roger Kennedy, worked as an English teacher for eight years at schools across London before starting his own business in 2017.

“I became disillusioned with certain elements of the role and the constantly changing policies,” said Roger. “It almost became that the evidence of achievements were favoured in place of genuine knowledge and interaction of your students. Teachers want to make a difference and see students’ progress but it’s being taken away from them.”

Aniruddh Gupta, CEO of UK-based nursery franchise, Kido School, has sourced a whole host of talent from the former teachers who have approached him regarding their franchise opportunity.

“Running a nursery can be incredibly complex. Having knowledge of those complexities and challenges as a former teacher means you can navigate them much more easily. Teachers at Kido also appreciate the vastly different working environment and culture where they can still pursue their passion for early years education.”

However, not all former teaching professionals are opting to continue in the education field when investing in their own business. Nicola Whybrow, former school teacher from Oxfordshire, now operates a House of Colour franchise. She puts much of her success down to the skills picked up during her 12 years as a teacher and the lack of restrictions in her new career.

“There are so many transferrable skills linked with teaching that are relevant to business management – communication, time-keeping, patience and resilience,” explained Nicola. “Despite leaving the education industry to start my own colour and image consultancy franchise in 2017, I find myself referring back to my teacher training regularly. But when I was working as a teacher, my time was so stretched that I hardly had the time to realise I was using this skillset. Now, I have the time to advance my professional skills and build a credible and stable future for myself. It’s poles apart from my teaching career.

“I can work eight days in a month and bring home more money that I did working five day weeks as a teacher. I finally have the time for my family, the money for nice, long holidays and a quality of life I could have never imagined I would have,” explained Nicola.

Whether you choose to stay in the education field or something entirely different, former teachers have a wealth of options in business ownership. Explore these educational brands and more at The International Franchise Show on 3-4 April 2020 will host over 200 franchise opportunities at ExCeL London, visit: thefranchiseshow.co.uk to register for free.