Access Protection Academy’s enrolments have doubled year-on-year (YOY) from 10 to 20 people per month.
The firm said that the increase in Access Protection Academy’s enrolments was partially due to the appointment of Peter Phillips as training manager in February last year.
The Access Protection Academy is aimed at newcomers to the industry, and they start learning about the protection market and products, and how to sell and manage clients professionally according to Consumer Duty.
The company said that, after 12 months, they would reach Competent Adviser Status (CAS), and some trainees may then go on to take their certificates in mortgage advice at Access Mortgage Academy.
Karl Wilkinson, CEO at Access FS, said: “Training is at the heart of our business. In the past year, we have also set up management and personal development courses, and expanded our training and competency department.
“We want to make sure that our advisers develop the competence and confidence to approach customers with a wide product offering and financial advice that meets each customer’s individual requirements.
“Our ‘excellent’ Trustpilot score is 5/5 with 486 reviews, and I would attribute a significant proportion of merit to our excellent training and mentoring programmes.”
Anna is currently the deputy editor for Mortgage Solutions and editor for Specialist Lending Solutions. She has worked as a journalist since 2019, having secured her Gold Standard NCTJ diploma from News Associates in a fast-track six-month course.
She started her career as a report at specialist publication The Insurance Insider covering a wide range of areas before joining Mortgage Solutions and Specialist Lending Solutions in 2021.
In her role, she helps put together and structure the news agenda for the day and writes up press releases, reports, interviews, analyses and exclusives across both titles. She also commissions blogs for Specialist Lending Solutions and hosts online masterclasses and in-person events across the business.
She has been shortlisted for three journalism awards, which include BIBA Journalist and Media Awards Scoop of Year Award in 2020, Headline Money Mortgage Journalist of the Year Award (B2B) in 2022 and 2023.
Prior to being a journalist, Anna worked in ecommerce across Snow + Rock, Cycle Surgery and Runners Need websites, and before that worked at specialist financial PR firm Rostrum.
In her spare time, Anna enjoys reading, seeing live music, and cooking for friends and family. When she gets a chance, she also enjoys hiking, skiing and indoor rock climbing.
