Future-Proofing Your Training & Competency Framework
Insights from Industry Leaders
In today’s rapidly evolving regulatory landscape, protecting your business, your customers, and your reputation requires more than merely meeting compliance requirements. It demands a skilled, well-supervised, and continuously developed workforce—particularly in the highly regulated environment of the United Kingdom.
As part of StarCompliance’s (Star) ongoing commitment to supporting the global compliance community, we brought together leading experts to explore the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) focus on competency in a timely webinar, Future-Proofing Your T&C Framework: Tech, Risk, and Regulatory Change.
Hosted by Star’s Andy Atkinson, Director of Product Management, the webinar focused on practical strategies for strengthening Training and Competency (T&C) frameworks, highlighting that effective oversight and continuous development are essential to navigating today’s complex risk landscape.
The discussion featured T&C expert Richard Edwards of NFU Mutual, and the webinar provided a deep dive into modern T&C frameworks and how firms can stay ahead of regulatory expectations, evolving risk profiles, and workforce shifts.
“At the heart of the UK’s regulatory framework lies a core principle: ensuring that people performing critical roles are competent, appropriately supervised, and continuously developed.” – Andy Atkinson
The panel explored the increasing complexity of T&C management, where evolving expectations around oversight, accountability, and employee development converge. With the continued impact of the UK’s Senior Managers & Certification Regime (SMCR), along with the requirements of the Consumer Duty, firms are under more pressure than ever to demonstrate how they ensure staff competence.
“A T&C framework gives structure and clarity, but its real value lies in protecting consumers by ensuring that employees have the skills and support they need. It’s about reducing risk and improving outcomes.” – Richard Edwards
While the FCA does not mandate a formal T&C plan, it does require firms to ensure employees are competent in their roles. To meet this expectation, firms should adopt a structured, risk-based approach tailored to everyone’s responsibilities.
“T&C and SMCR are deeply connected with SMCR sets the expectation, and T&C delivers the evidence. Without clear data on supervision, coaching, and development, a firm risks falling short of the fit and proper requirements.” – Andy Atkinson
Technology as a T&C Partner
Today’s hybrid working environment adds complexity to maintaining alignment between HR, learning programmes, performance appraisals, and risk management. Technological advancements in regulatory technology (RegTech)—such as those developed by Star—help alleviate the burden on supervisors by generating alerts, scheduling activities, and providing real-time insights into workforce risk.
Star’s Training & Competency solution supports comprehensive oversight by offering a centralised platform to manage training, supervision, licensing, and certification. It is scalable, flexible, and provides visibility across the employee lifecycle. And because it is built on the same infrastructure as Star’s SMCR solution, firms benefit from a unified view of employee risk and regulatory obligations.
On-demand Webinar
Future-Proofing Your T&C Framework: Tech, Risk, and Regulatory Change
Join us for this insightful webinar where experienced compliance leaders will explore the practicalities, challenges, and innovations shaping T&C today.
