The GRiD Training Academy – the learning and development initiative run by trade body GRiD (Group Risk Development) – today announced details of a new course designed for professionals wanting to take the next step in the industry.
The course, Group Life Assurance – Taxation and Trusts, – is a “more advanced” course that builds on the Academy’s introductory course that was launched in 2018.
That introductory course was designed to acquaint delegates with the fundamentals of group risk for those newer to the industry or who had limited support within their own companies.
A spokesperson for GRiD said, though, that the new more advanced course, delivered by senior industry figures, gives deeper insight in to “the group life landscape”, while it will also help delegates to get to grips with the two main types of group life arrangements, including taxation. The course will also examine the “anatomy” of a trust, including issues in practice and fixes.
Attendees are expected to already have a good understanding of the group risk market by having undertaken the introductory level sessions or having the equivalent level of knowledge through seniority and experience.
Developed by the GRiD Regulations Committee, the sessions will be delivered by Simon Candy, propositions & technical manager at Aviva, Clare Lusted, head of propositions at MetLife UK and Alex Rush, legal director, BDB Pitmans LLP.
Katharine Moxham (pictured), spokesperson for GRiD, said that the group risk industry is “tremendously agile”.
She said: “It’s vital to keep abreast of product developments as well as broader legislative changes and market forces, which is why we decided to work with these highly-regarded industry practitioners to put together this more advanced course.
“The initial course was much more about what group risk is and why it’s beneficial to employers and employees, but this new course gets serious about the nitty gritty of taxation and trusts. Any group risk practitioner seeking to build up their technical knowledge will want to book their place.”
The training, which is available to employees of GRiD members, will be delivered online in a two-hour interactive tutorial session on 25 February with a follow up one hour Q&A on 10 March. There is no charge for the training, or limits on the number of delegates from a single firm, subject to the maximum delegate allowance for the session of 1,000 people.