An online learning portal to educate advisers about Venture Capital Trusts has been launched.
Octopus Investments today announced the Octopus Adviser Academy, designed to inform planners and advisers on tax-efficient investments and planning.

The content includes courses on Venture Capital Trusts, Enterprise Investment Schemes and Business Property Relief, the government legislation behind a number of different inheritance tax products.

Neil Buckland, head of sales at Octopus, said: “The academy aims to be a go-to, practical tool to support advisers and highlight the role these products can play in Financial Planning.”

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The company said it would help professionals earn valuable hours of continuous professional development.

Mr Buckland said: “These products are growing in popularity as people look for government approved, tax-efficient ways to build and manage their investments. In a fast-moving environment where tax legislation is constantly changing, providers have a duty to help advisers better understand the full range of benefits and complexities associated with these products.”

After registering with the academy for free, advisers are invited to participate in fully-accredited short learning courses which are designed to develop their understanding in areas of tax-efficient investing that are increasingly relevant to their clients.

The aim is to provide advisers with insights to help them improve their product knowledge while also gaining valuable hours of CPD in the process. Additional courses will be developed on an ongoing basis in line with adviser requirements and demand.

Octopus claims to be the largest provider of VCTs and EIS in the UK and currently works with more than 4,000 advisers to provide an ongoing programme of services covering tax-efficient investing and the issues affecting their clients.

This includes a series of adviser seminars and webinars throughout the year and, most recently, the launch of a microsite and Guide to Retirement Planning ahead of the changes to pensions legislation. Nearly 3,000 advisers attend Octopus seminars every year.

Mr Buckland said: “At Octopus we provide hands on practical support to our advisers and have a large team working in all regions of the UK. Ultimately, we want to do what we can to help advisers make a meaningful difference to their clients by helping them achieve their financial goals. The academy is another way through which we can provide support to advisers.”