APPT plans to expand training materials for professional administrators

The Association of Professional Pension Trustees (APPT) has announced plans to strengthen the training materials available to its members.
Beginning with advice on environmental, social and governance (ESG) and diversity and inclusion issues, the initiatives will be rolled out over the coming year.
Since launching its professional trustee certification two years ago, the APPT said the number of its professional trustees had nearly doubled to more than 350 members.
Additionally, the association has seen an increase in attendance at its meetings since it started meeting virtually, allowing members based outside of London and the South East to engage more with the APPT.
Materials expansion follows Mallowstreet expansion Syndic’s report 2021which called for increased assistance for professional trustees in these and other areas.
“The Mallowstreet report highlights growing pressures on professional and non-professional directors which are intensifying, not least due to a range of new requirements imposed on boards by the Pensions Act 2021,” commented APPT President Harus Rai.
“While the accreditation of professional trustees and the best practices that our members must adhere to (meeting our standards) help improve the quality of professional trusteeship across the industry, we recognize that our members need more training designed for the vital role they play on boards of directors – a role that is growing rapidly, particularly due to the increase in the number of sole director appointments.
“The new training initiatives will include short topical videos made available to our members on our website, principles-based advice and practical ‘tips and tricks’ checklists.
“We hope these initiatives and other plans we have will continue to attract more professional directors to join the association and complete the transformation of the sector into one where the vast majority of professional directors have achieved certification. and can be seen as actively promoting best practice. while protecting the benefits of affiliates.