The Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) has launched a new initiative this week to campaign to turn the UK’s pension capital into a "powerful engine of sustainable growth" 

The professional body, which provides the Certified Financial Planner qualification in the UK, says it wants to unlock investment and improving outcomes for savers and strengthen the UK economy for the "next generation."

The new CISI 'Growth Unleashed Learning Alliance' is an agreement between the City of London Corporation and the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) and brings together a coalition of educational and professional bodies.

The initiative is also back by the Chartered Bodies Alliance which includes the Chartered Insurance Institute, the Chartered Banker Institute and the CFA Society of the UK.

The Alliance has been formed to provide a programme of activity to support education and understanding of the Mansion House Accord, which was signed in May this year by 17 major UK pension providers and aims to 'unlock' up to £100 billion of investment for major infrastructure projects, clean energy and scale-ups. 

The agreement was signed this week by CISI CEO Tracy Vegro, Lord Mayor of the City of London Alastair King FCSI(Hon) and Nick Garnish Chartered MCSI, Master, Worshipful Company of International Bankers.

It is a shared commitment from the City of London Corporation and a coalition of educational bodies led by the CISI to develop and deliver a programme of activity to support education and understanding of the Mansion House Accord (MHA). Mr Garnish is also head of Treasury, CIBC, Europe, Asia & Australia. 

CISI CEO Tracy Vegro said: “We are excited to be leading this new initiative, along with our partners in the Chartered Body Alliance, which is aligned to the Lord Mayor’s Growth Unleashed mission, and is a sector response to UK financial services market uncertainty and questions around risk.  

"We look forward to working with and supporting CISI Honorary Fellow and Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alastair King as convener of this innovative alliance of educational and professional partners. We will work towards accelerating the adoption of the Mansion House Accord, developing a targeted learning and engagement programme across the pensions and investment ecosystem.“

Nick Garnish Chartered MCSI, Master, Worshipful Company of International Bankers and Head of Treasury, CIBC, Europe, Asia & Australia said: “Growth is critically important, so I am delighted to join the group which was convened by the Lord Mayor. The aim is to improve education and engagement associated with risk and risk management, within this ecosystem, to help unlock growth opportunities and illustrates the power of education to change lives and generate better outcomes.” 

Lord Mayor of the City of London Alastair King FCSI(Hon) said: “This CISI Growth Unleashed Learning Alliance has been magnificently supported by the CISI and backed by the Chartered Body Alliance, other leading professional bodies, and universities. The Plan will give pension trustees, managers, and policymakers throughout the pension value chain the tools and the confidence they need to invest more productively.   

“Wonderfully, these professional bodies have committed to offer this training at cost, to benefit the British economy.  That is a real commitment from them for which I am most grateful.

“Our Accord, Pensions Pledge, and education plan represent bold commitments from the financial industry to serve others before it serves itself...but we can go further to help British households secure their long-term financial security.”

The CISI Growth Unleashed Learning Alliance will aim to provide a wide level of support including raising awareness of the economic and member benefits of investing in private markets, enhancing trustee and professional capability across pensions governance and portfolio construction and aligning policy objectives with investment practice through high-level dialogue and briefings.

A UK-wide programme will include: CPD-accredited modular training, executive roundtables and briefings, a national UK insight and innovation series, practical toolkits and decision frameworks.

Programme delivery will start this autumn, led by the CISI with support from other members of the Chartered Body Alliance, professional institutes, universities, and industry contributors including Livery Companies, led by the Worshipful Company of International Bankers.