Continuing Professional Development

A firm must ensure that relevant employees (as defined in SYSC 28) who have been assessed as competent remain competent by completing a minimum of 15 hours of appropriate continuing professional development in each 12 month period.

Training and development can encompass various types of facilitated learning opportunities including courses, e-learning and mentoring.

A firm is permitted to suspend this CPD requirement for the period of time during which an employee is continuously absent from work, if that absence is due to:

1. maternity, paternity or adoption leave;
2. long-term illness or disability;
3. caring responsibilities for a family member who has a long-term illness or disability; or
4. any other absence allowed in order for the firm to meet its statutory duties in relation to equality and diversity.

(a family member includes a partner, parent, grandparent, sibling or child)

In deciding whether to suspend the requirement, a firm should consider:

1. the employee’s individual circumstances;
2. the length of time the employee is likely to be absent from carrying on the activity; and
3. its statutory duties in relation to equality and diversity.