NU opens financial academy

Norwich Union launched its financial adviser academy at the end of last month in a bid to improve IFAs' professional training. The academy is designed to encourage advisers to attain the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) Diploma in Financial Planning qualification. Norwich Union has received over 400 emails from advisers expressing interest in becoming a member. Steve Gay, director of distribution development at Norwich Union, said: "This illustrates the real appetite among advisers to take the initiative, in advance of any future FSA announcement, to raise their professional standi...