Key role for finance unions in skills shake-up

It is believed that finance trade unions such as UNIFI and Amicus will take up to two of around 12 seats on the board of the new Finance Sector Skills Council, which will work with industry regulator the Financial Services Authority to review professional qualifications across the industry. The FSSC is one of 17 high-powered sectoral skills councils launched as part of the skills strategy.

Welcoming the strategy, Digby Jacks, secretary of the Alliance For Finance, said: "This is a big step forward. For the first time there will be a guaranteed trade union voice when it comes to professional qualifications. We will use it to ensure the voice of staff is clearly heard." The other board members will represent other stakeholders including employers, and consumers.