1st launches new Training and Consultancy Service - 'clientsfirst'

1st, a Vertex company and the leading supplier of integrated technology solutions for financial advisers, has announced the launch of ‘clientsfirst’ - a training and consultancy service, available to all users of its Adviser Office (AO) system.

This extensive new support facility has been designed following feedback from users and following research 1st conducted with the Adviser E-Enquiry group last year.  This showed that over 40% of adviser firms felt increased training would be the most important factor in helping them use technology and e-services more often. The vast majority, (over 80%), also said that they would participate in technology training if it was offered to them.

Some of the training and consultancy services available within ‘clientsfirst’ include:

• Business Consultancy – offers a diverse range of services from initial implementation, data cleansing, training plans to process mapping workshops and procedure writing
• ‘Train the Trainer’ – designed to give selected staff the necessary skills to effectively train other employees within the organisation
• Training Courses – include topics such as ‘introduction to basic commissions’, ‘compliance made easy’, ‘streamlining e-business activity’ and ‘enhancing client services’. Bespoke training courses can also be arranged.

All training courses available are tailor made for advisers, paraplanners, administrators, compliance officers and accounts teams and can be conducted either on site in a classroom environment, or online - via e-learning or over the internet. 1st also run a series of workshops, forums and client user groups, as well as providing an extranet site  constantly updated by the support team.

Carol Osborne, Operations Manager of Campbell Dallas Financial Services Ltd explains;

"We have been using Adviser Office for the last six years and it now runs across all three of our sites as our business has grown.

The support services offered by 1st really help us get the most out of the system, with the user groups and roadshows being an invaluable forum for discussing ideas with our peers. We understand the importance of good training and the bespoke training delivered by 1st has helped us continue to streamline our business processes through improved workflow and more effective use of the financial planning tools."

Mik Cons, managing director, 1st, comments:

“Putting clients first is not just about providing first class technology. The degree of support and relationship management offered to our users makes a huge difference to firms wishing to obtain the best possible results from their investment in technology and e-business. Ongoing training is of course essential in achieving this, which is why we have also undergone a rigorous audit to gain a gold accreditation with the Institute of IT training for all our courses.

“We aim to maintain a proactive relationship with our clients and our training and consultancy support is also supplemented by a large number of regional workshops which enable AO users to meet us as well as view any new developments to the system - ensuring maximum value from a morning out of the office.”

For further information on any training courses or consultancy service please visit www.1stextranet.com or contact the client services team on 0845 068 9999.