With their commitment to provide access to financial advice Newcastle Building Society, through their financial advice arm Newcastle Financial Advisers offered staff the opportunity to become Financial Advisers.

Working with Openwork, one of the largest financial advice networks in the UK Newcastle Financial Advisers launched ‘Ocademy’, an Openwork programme in October 2015.

18 months on, the first two successful applicants David Simpson and Rachael Benford are now fully fledged Financial Advisers.

David is now the Financial Adviser in the Newcastle Building Society North Shields branch and Rachael will be making a permanent move into the Hexham branch in June.

Stuart Dodson, Newcastle Financial Advisers, Managing Director commented;

“We are extremely proud of David and Rachael’s achievements. It took a great deal of hard work and dedication to successfully complete their Diplomas in Financial Advice.

Nurturing the talent we have is hugely important. Our staff are loyal and share our enthusiasm when it comes to the communities we serve, it’s important we reward that with the opportunity of real career progression.

In 2013 the Retail Distribution Review (RDR) overhauled financial services in the UK.

As a consequence of RDR some well known financial organisations withdrew from providing financial advice and there was a dramatic drop in the number of financial advisers.

The effect of this is still being felt, with many people now finding they cannot access financial advice on their local high street.

We live in uncertain times where the need for face to face financial advice is great.

 Whilst the changes in 2013 moved financial services to a better place, it also created a challenge for us in the recruitment of new advisers.

In order for us to provide communities in the North East with access to much needed face to face financial advice in an environment they know and feel comfortable in we decided to develop our own talent; Ocademy was a perfect fit.”

There are currently five other members of Newcastle Building Society staff on the Ocademy programme with their sights firmly set on become the next generation of financial advisers.  

Newcastle Building Society introduces to Newcastle Financial Advisers Limited for investments, pensions, inheritance tax planning, financial advice and life cover. Newcastle Financial Advisers Limited is an appointed representative of Openwork Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Newcastle Building Society Principal Office: Portland House, New Bridge Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8AL. Newcastle Building Society is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Newcastle Building Society is entered in the Financial Services Register under number 156058. You can check this on the Financial Services Register or by contacting the Financial Conduct Authority on 0800 111 6768. Call 0845 734 4345 or visit us online www.newcastle.co.uk