The Pensions Regulator: Trustees show support for e-learning

Wednesday, 16, Nov 2005 12:00

Focus groups organised by the Pensions Regulator have resulted in positive feedback on the regulator's proposed e-learning programme.

Volunteer trustees taking part in the sessions held last month completed specimen pages from the interactive programme. The small focus groups were held to help assess the material that has been developed so far, and gain feedback to be used in ongoing development.

The overwhelming majority of trustees said they would recommend the interactive learning to both new and existing trustees, describing the programme as "powerful and effective" and accessible to even those users without a very high level of knowledge.

Other comments were that the examples used were realistic, for example accurately depicting "what a trustee meeting is really like," and that "the style kept it interesting". One trustee said: "I would recommend it unhesitatingly."

The first tranche of the e-learning programme will be available in January 2006 and will cover units one and two of the syllabus; the responsibility of trustees in relation to trust law, and in relation to pensions law. The remainder of the programme will be delivered later in 2006.

The project is being undertaken by the regulator in response to research carried out in early 2005, which showed that less than half of trustees received regular on-going training. Despite this, 90 per cent said they would take up an e-learning programme if it was backed by the Pensions Regulator.

Successful completion of all the modules will help trustees meet the requirements for trustee knowledge and understanding set out in the 2004 Pensions Act.

For more information about the regulator's e-learning programme, and to sign up for occasional email updates visit: http://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/trustees/