Connect Academies
Connect for Intermediaries, buoyed by the overwhelming success of its first training academy in March, is delighted to announce the addition of seven more Connect academies to its schedule this year.
The positive reception of the first event, held in the second week of March, surpassed expectations, with attendees awarding an impressive average rating of 4.96 out of five for the quality of content and delivery.
The resounding success of the initial academy has prompted Connect to extend its offerings throughout the year, a move made possible by the strong support from its esteemed lender partners. The upcoming training Connect academies are set to take place on the following dates:
- 29th April 2019 – 3rd May 2019
- 20th May 2019 – 24th May 2019
- 17th June 2019 – 21st June 2019
Furthermore, provisional dates for the Autumn season have been added to cater to the growing demand for these valuable training sessions:
- 2nd September – 6th September
- 30th September – 4th October
- 4th November – 8th November
- 2nd December – 6th December.
Connect Academies | What does the Academy offer?
This extended schedule reflects Connect for Intermediaries’ commitment to meeting the needs of its audience and providing top-notch training opportunities. The company looks forward to building on the success of its initial academy and continuing to deliver exceptional content and learning experiences throughout the year.
The specialised mortgage industry academies aim to onboard new advisors, catering to brokers returning after a hiatus and professionals in fields like accounting, real estate, and letting agencies. The program is inclusive, welcoming individuals experienced in property-related fields seeking a transition into advisory roles. A pivotal condition is that participants must join Connect’s network upon completing the course.
Connect’s commitment to assisting its Authorised Representatives (ARs) in business growth is evident in initiatives like the academy. It extends its reach to trainees and new staff hired by existing network members, providing them with essential knowledge and support. 
The Connect Academies offer a comprehensive understanding of the regulatory framework for trading and focus on enhancing mortgage expertise. Emphasis is placed on grasping criteria and lender offerings in the specialised market, preparing attendees for advisory roles in intricate mortgage categories such as complex buy-to-let, commercial, development, and bridge loans.
Upon successful course completion, participants are equipped to guide various specialist mortgages. Notably, although regulatory mandates for mortgage qualifications or demonstrating competent adviser status may not be prevalent in most specialist mortgage markets, many lenders now require advisors to be regulated and part of a regulated environment to accept applications.
This underlines the industry’s evolving standards and the importance of aligning with regulated practices for credibility and acceptance among lenders.
Connect Academies | Quotes
Attendee Jack Carter said, “My knowledge has increased greatly, and the academy has given me added confidence.”
Another attendee, Terence McCann, said, “The course was excellent and beneficial in all areas.”
Training and mentoring will continue after the course, and all candidates will have access to the Connect for Intermediaries team to help them grow and develop, achieve Competent Adviser Status and become successful advisers.
Liz Syms, CEO of Connect, says, “Our first academy was an overwhelming success with positive feedback from every attendee. If the first one was a success, we always planned to put on more academies, but we were so oversubscribed that we doubled the number we originally planned to run.
“There is a desperate need to bring new people and skills into the mortgage industry, people who are properly trained so that they will always put the client’s interests first. Our academies successfully achieve all those things, raising standards, bringing new blood into the industry and helping our existing adviser members grow their own businesses.”
We’ve come to the end of our announcement on ” Connect Academies.” Until next time, stay Connect!