CFA’s UK Branch Launch ESG Qualification for Investment Professionals in December
In a bid to boost knowledge in social, environmental, and governance in the investment sector, the UK branch of renowned CFA institute has decided to launch a new qualification program in environmental, social, and corporate governance popularly known as ESG Investing. With the launch of this new qualification program, it will become the first qualification of its kind in the country. It will have sector-wide availability to scores of investment professionals based in the UK.
The CFA UK’s Certificate in ESG Investing will remain available for investment professionals in the UK right from December this year.
The Certificate has got recognition from Principles of Responsible Investment or PRI. PRI is a famous UN-sponsored body. The Certificate has been launched amid the surging interest in ESG from investors.
As of now, more than 500 applicants have already enrolled to complete the Certificate course, and they can take the exam beginning from December 2, 2019.
According to reports, the new qualification program is likely to be introduced in several other markets from next year. And, it may cover Asian markets as well, where the demand has witnessed a sharp rise from private and institutional investors for expert advice on ESG and workable investing.
The launch of the Certificate program has come on the heels of a pilot program organized earlier this year in September. The pilot program was designed to make sure that the training materials created for the qualification were adequate and strong enough.
Over 160 students from nearly 60 firms had participated in the pilot program, and it accomplished a fairly good pass rate. The students who took part in the pilot program depicted a vast range of the profession that included asset owners, consultants, asset managers, and pension providers.
Most of them were senior professionals with 32 percent already achieved CFA designation, and 34 percent have the Investment Management Certificate (IMC).
Will Goodhart, chief executive of CFA UK, said:
CFA UK’s new Certificate in ESG Investing was designed to augment practitioners’ technical and ethical competency, enabling them to serve their clients to the best of their ability.
