FCA Employee Handbook - Financial Conduct Authority

Sponsored Studies PolicyThe FCA provides a comprehensive range of learning and development opportunities foremployees, which can be found on My FCA Hub (Learning and Development).Some roles require professional qualification. If this is the case and an applicant is required toundergo further study, the FCA will pay all reasonable associated costs.Applicants wishing to pursue further study, in order to gain additional qualifications on avoluntary basis should discuss their intentions with their line manager. Line managers willassess the suitability of the proposal against the individual’s current role requirements.The budget for sponsored study is managed by Organisational Development (OD). The FCAreserves the right to grant or withhold funding at its discretion. In the interest of costefficiency the FCA also reserves the right to select providers for certain qualifications wherepreferred supplier exist and agreements are in place, funding may be withheld whereapplications can be met more cost effectively elsewhere.Sponsorship conditionsThe FCA will not provide sponsorship for individuals working at the FCA who are notemployees.Please note it is only possible to undertake either a qualification under this policy or onerequest under the Time off to Train Policy within a 12 month period. If you have already madea request under this policy then you may not make a training application within a 12 monthperiod of that request under the Time off to Train Policy, and vice versa.The FCA will not normally provide sponsorship for employees within their probationary period.Where an individual completes an examination at their own expense and subsequentlysuccessfully completes their probationary period, the FCA may reimburse the costs of thestudy, provided that this has been agreed in advance with the line manager and OrganisationalDevelopment.The FCA will not normally provide sponsorship for employees with less than 1 year’scontinuous service.An employee must have received at least a ‘2’ performance rating for the past 2 years.The FCA will not provide sponsorship for a new study/qualification where the applicant hasfailed to complete a course or pass an examination previously funded by the FCA.Sponsorship does not cover accommodation, travel or other incidental costs associated withthe course. These should be agreed with the line manager and, if appropriate, reclaimedthrough Expenses from the local area budget.Sponsorship is not available by Organisational Development for membership of professionalbodies (unless this is a necessary condition of being able to take a qualification offered by thatbody). It is the applicant’s responsibility to inform the Learning & Development Support Teamof existing membership where this permits a discounted rate for examination entry or studymaterials.The FCA will not be responsible for the additional costs incurred as a result of late entry to acourse or examination, or for cancellation fees if FCA employee is unable to sit an examination.Please ensure that the study plan takes into account the amount of time needed to devote togaining the qualification and allow at least ten days for Organisational Development to processthe application.FCA Employee Handbook 2013 31