We recently held a webinar with Financial Training Consultant, Mike Sarwar, who spoke all about ESG reporting and how this impacts an organisation.

Event panellists

Jeremy Smith - Head of Banking and Finance, Kaplan

Jeremy started city-based training back in 1998. He has since built a strong reputation in the industry as an exceptional trainer, course designer and manager of clients, staff and products. You can read more about Jeremy on our Insights blog.

Mike Sarwar - Financial Training Consultant

Mike specialises in delivering highly interactive training that challenges established thought-processes and behaviours in financial reporting and business matters. His expertise encompasses two main areas: building management, commercial, and financial skills, as well as providing technical financial reporting and audit training.

Mike taught a wide range of subjects across ACA, ACCA, and CIMA professional exams for 15 years before transitioning to professional training for public and private sector clients. His dual role involved developing and delivering technical financial reporting courses and enhancing the business performance of sponsoring entities through commercial and financial training for non-accountants.

Key topics discussed

ESG course and in-house training

Starting the session, Jeremy touches upon the CFA Institute’s certificate in ESG Investing and the distance learning product that’s available at Kaplan. He explains the benefits of this certification and how it’s a great qualification to get you started in ESG.

He continues by highlighting the in-house training that’s available for business. This is where we create specific, bespoke courses based on requirements for the client. These can be held online or in-person.

What is ESG?

Mike Sarwar takes control of the discussion, starting with an explanation of what ESG is. The open conversation between Mike, Jeremy and the guests dives further into what ESG means for an organisation and how it should be approached.

Careers in ESG Investing

Mike explains that ESG should be considered as a cultural shift in reporting, and not just a ‘check-list approach’ for a business. He raises questions about what ESG means in a day-to-day environment within an organisation, and the importance of being responsible and thoughtful while working to create a sustainable organisation.

ESG drivers and sources of law

Mike talks about the international effort and the enormous landscape that is ESG, and how it can become easy to feel inundated with information and confusion as to what drives ESG.

He suggests to ask yourself, “what are we trying to do with ESG?” He explains that the key driver is that we want businesses that exist today to continue to exist in years to come. This essentially means that they need to be sustainable in all areas aside from environmentally, such as through their products and services, reputation and workforce.

ESG as part of an organisation’s core strategy

Again, Mike talks about how organisations can work to be sustainable. He explains that ESG should be integrated within a business’ strategy, rather than an add-on. He discusses how we need to rethink and re-evaluate how a business operates, and how ESG can’t be disjointed with a business’ strategy or it won’t work.

ESG potential pitfalls

This is where the seven sins of ESG come in. Mike views this as the ‘red flags’ within the organisations rather than the topic of ESG itself. He emphasises that ESG needs to be integrated into the day-to-day reporting of a business, as without this it won’t work like it needs to.

He dives deeper into this by focusing on ways in which an organisation can integrate ESG into the business strategy by drawing upon points that showcase the common misconceptions among companies when dealing with the management of ESG issues.

These points include:

• Excessive focus on ratings - A company that focuses exclusively on improving ratings is at risk of allocating more resources to checking boxes rather than developing a strong strategy.
• Treating ESG as only a communications effort - Communications can’t substitute for a robust management system.
• Lack of board and management oversight - The ESG management strategy should be a core part of the business’ values. This includes the involvement of the board and senior management.
• Disconnect from business strategy - ESG fails to serve its purpose when it doesn’t work with the company’s strategic objectives.
• Compliance-oriented approach - Focusing only on compliance with rules and regulations can make ESG management appear as reactive rather than the will to go above and beyond minimum requirements.
• Inconsistencies across the firm - The lack of a company-wide strategy can leave significant gaps in the business’ ESG management programmes.

Watch the full recording

Tune into the full discussion about ESG reporting by watching the full recording below.

Ready to learn more?

At Kaplan, we offer in-house bespoke training for clients, and the CFA Institute’s Certificate in ESG Investing which is available to purchase online.

But if you’re still not sure whether this is the best course for you, discover our free 7-day trial of the Certificate in ESG Investing.

We recently held a webinar with Financial Training Consultant, Mike Sarwar, who spoke all about ESG reporting and how this impacts an organisation.

Event panellists

Jeremy Smith - Head of Banking and Finance, Kaplan

Jeremy started city-based training back in 1998. He has since built a strong reputation in the industry as an exceptional trainer, course designer and manager of clients, staff and products. You can read more about Jeremy on our Insights blog.

Mike Sarwar - Financial Training Consultant

Mike specialises in delivering highly interactive training that challenges established thought-processes and behaviours in financial reporting and business matters. His expertise encompasses two main areas: building management, commercial, and financial skills, as well as providing technical financial reporting and audit training.

Mike taught a wide range of subjects across ACA, ACCA, and CIMA professional exams for 15 years before transitioning to professional training for public and private sector clients. His dual role involved developing and delivering technical financial reporting courses and enhancing the business performance of sponsoring entities through commercial and financial training for non-accountants.

Key topics discussed

ESG course and in-house training

Starting the session, Jeremy touches upon the CFA Institute’s certificate in ESG Investing and the distance learning product that’s available at Kaplan. He explains the benefits of this certification and how it’s a great qualification to get you started in ESG.

He continues by highlighting the in-house training that’s available for business. This is where we create specific, bespoke courses based on requirements for the client. These can be held online or in-person.

What is ESG?

Mike Sarwar takes control of the discussion, starting with an explanation of what ESG is. The open conversation between Mike, Jeremy and the guests dives further into what ESG means for an organisation and how it should be approached.

Careers in ESG Investing

Mike explains that ESG should be considered as a cultural shift in reporting, and not just a ‘check-list approach’ for a business. He raises questions about what ESG means in a day-to-day environment within an organisation, and the importance of being responsible and thoughtful while working to create a sustainable organisation.

ESG drivers and sources of law

Mike talks about the international effort and the enormous landscape that is ESG, and how it can become easy to feel inundated with information and confusion as to what drives ESG.

He suggests to ask yourself, “what are we trying to do with ESG?” He explains that the key driver is that we want businesses that exist today to continue to exist in years to come. This essentially means that they need to be sustainable in all areas aside from environmentally, such as through their products and services, reputation and workforce.

ESG as part of an organisation’s core strategy

Again, Mike talks about how organisations can work to be sustainable. He explains that ESG should be integrated within a business’ strategy, rather than an add-on. He discusses how we need to rethink and re-evaluate how a business operates, and how ESG can’t be disjointed with a business’ strategy or it won’t work.

ESG potential pitfalls

This is where the seven sins of ESG come in. Mike views this as the ‘red flags’ within the organisations rather than the topic of ESG itself. He emphasises that ESG needs to be integrated into the day-to-day reporting of a business, as without this it won’t work like it needs to.

He dives deeper into this by focusing on ways in which an organisation can integrate ESG into the business strategy by drawing upon points that showcase the common misconceptions among companies when dealing with the management of ESG issues.

These points include:

• Excessive focus on ratings - A company that focuses exclusively on improving ratings is at risk of allocating more resources to checking boxes rather than developing a strong strategy.
• Treating ESG as only a communications effort - Communications can’t substitute for a robust management system.
• Lack of board and management oversight - The ESG management strategy should be a core part of the business’ values. This includes the involvement of the board and senior management.
• Disconnect from business strategy - ESG fails to serve its purpose when it doesn’t work with the company’s strategic objectives.
• Compliance-oriented approach - Focusing only on compliance with rules and regulations can make ESG management appear as reactive rather than the will to go above and beyond minimum requirements.
• Inconsistencies across the firm - The lack of a company-wide strategy can leave significant gaps in the business’ ESG management programmes.

Watch the full recording

Tune into the full discussion about ESG reporting by watching the full recording below.

Ready to learn more?

At Kaplan, we offer in-house bespoke training for clients, and the CFA Institute’s Certificate in ESG Investing which is available to purchase online.

But if you’re still not sure whether this is the best course for you, discover our free 7-day trial of the Certificate in ESG Investing.

When we’re not feeling great, either physically or mentally, studying can fall by the way-side - but how much does our health actually impact our ability to learn?

We looked into it and it’s really interesting to see just how much it can affect us. Read on for more insight.

The science - exercise can help learning

An eminent Havard professor researched the connection between exercise and the brain, and discovered strong evidence that aerobic exercise physically remodels the brain for peak performance on all fronts. Dr John J Ratey found that exercise improves learning on three levels:

"First, it optimises your mind-set to improve alertness, attention, and motivation; second, it prepares and encourages nerve cells to bind to one another, which is the cellular basis for logging in new information; and third, it spurs the development of new nerve cells from stem cells in the hippocampus."

In short, not only does exercise help the brain get ready to learn but it actually makes retaining information easier. So that’s the science - but what can it mean for you? And what can you do to boost your learning through health and well-being?

Eat well to boost your brain

Many of us skip breakfast, or eat a super heavy lunch - both of which can cause a slump in concentration. It’s important to be properly nourished throughout the day, especially when trying to study. We’re more alert, can concentrate better, remember more, and have increased cognitive processing ability when we’re properly fed.

Snack and junk food aren’t the best - they’re high in calories and high in sugar and fat - we all know this, that’s why they’re so yummy. But they’re not good for you if you’re trying to study and take in new information.

Top brain food

Berries - rich in lots of compounds that may improve learning and academic performance*. Grab a handful or add to a smoothie to get a boost.

Citrus fruits - great for brain health, similar to berries. Again they have a range of compounds that may have the ability to promote learning and memory, as well as protect nerve cells from injury, therefore warding off mental decline*.

Dark chocolate - yes, believe it or not, chocolate can reduce mental fatigue, boost memory, and improve reaction time - in moderation of course!

Nuts - packed full of essential nutrients and vitamins to boost brain health. They’re a great study snack as they can keep you fuelled through marathon study sessions. They may also have an impact on reaction time and improve brain function. Remember though that nuts can be high in calories so consume in moderation.

Eggs - often referred to as nature’s multivitamin as they contain so many nutrients that can help our brain function. For example, selenium - this is involved in coordination, memory, cognition, and motor performance. Eggs also contain choline that’s needed for brain development, and acetylcholine, which is necessary for memory storage. Clever eggs.

Fish - full of omega-3s, essential fats that are important for brain health. Many studies have shown the link between fish and improved mental performance.

There are loads of other foods that can help, including avocados, beetroot, as well as red, green, and orange vegetables. Try them out and see what works for you.

Exercise = brain power

Physical exercise releases proteins in the brain that can help improve your memory and increase your cognitive performance. This is because the hippocampus, the area of our brain that is involved with retaining information, is incredibly responsive to these proteins. So whether you’re revising for an exam or listening to a tutor during a lesson, you’ll be able to take in and retain what you learn much more easily if you have been doing some regular exercise.

It can also improve your mood as exercise raises your endorphin levels - it might be uncomfortable whilst you’re doing it, but afterwards you’ll feel amazing. Ever climbed to the top of a hill, vowing you’ll never do this again, but at the top feel elated? That’s a great mood boost, and can really help your mental health, as well as your physical health.

A career in finance, a life in sport

Not only that, exercising can boost your energy levels. It might sound crazy if you're exhausted after a workout, but it’s true. Experts have found that there is a connection between being physically healthy and delivering a strong academic performance. This is because low-intensity exercise can give our energy levels a much-needed boost, which is perfect for when you’re studying long hours. Studies also prove that exercise boosts creativity and mental energy. So if you’re in need of a boost, it could be just a walk or jog away.

Exercises for studying

You don’t have to run a marathon, just 20 minutes can really boost your concentration. So how about one of these?

• Gentle jog around a local park - get your nature fix at the same time
• Walk around the block - get the heart rate up a little
• Yoga - stretch your body and your mind
• Short weight training session - get the muscles working as well as your mind
• Tai Chi - meditation in motion
• Cycling - nip out and back in 20 mins to get the heart going

And there are so many others you can do - if you have any exercise machines at home such as a rowing machine or stationary bike, jump on them for 20 minutes before studying, or during a study break, and you’ll immediately feel the benefits.

Get walking with our apprentice step challenge

To help keep you all active, keep your body and brain motivated, and help your overall well-being, we have organised a charity step challenge for our apprentices.

From 20 September to 4 October, we are challenging all apprentices and their employers to reach 105,000 steps within the two week period (around 7,500 steps a day).

All money raised will go towards Mind, the mental health charity, and there will also be a prize awarded to the winner of the challenge.

If you're a Kaplan apprentice or employer, register your interest via our online form before 15 September and we’ll be in touch with the next steps.

Want more information about learner well-being?

Have a look at our well-being page and our blogs - and if you need help or support, get in touch with the team who’ll be able to help you further.

*https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6893475/ - Flavonoid-Rich Mixed Berries Maintain and Improve Cognitive Function Over a 6 h Period in Young Healthy Adults

**https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6274333/ - Neurodegenerative Diseases: Might Citrus Flavonoids Play a Protective Role?

As a business, preserving the environment and looking after our planet is very important to us. And to help celebrate World Environment Day, we’re launching a competition to help encourage a more greener lifestyle.

For some time we’ve focussed on being a much more sustainable company. Right now we have the following in place…

• Our centres/offices have light sensors installed, and LED lights have replaced fluorescent tubes.


• We use energy saving IT and printing equipment.


• We have office plants in our locations up and down the country, to improve air quality.


• We recycle - extensively. Focusing on paper, envelopes, IT equipment (donated to charity), office furniture, kitchen waste, and sanitary waste.


• We work with contractors who all have an Environmental Policy.

Also, with our staff we offer a cycle to work initiative to reduce driving or using public transport, have flexible working which reduces office footprint and emissions, remote meetings to reduce physical meet-ups, and we don’t don't print unless absolutely necessary.

Get involved with our World Environment Day competition!

We want you to tell us (on social) what things you are doing to live a greener life. You might be doing things to reduce your carbon footprint, you might be more selective with your diet, or you might be doing things that make you less reliant on single used plastic.

How mindfulness can help - now more than ever

Whatever it is, head to our Twitter page and add your comment to our pinned post.

Our favourite 50 responses will each receive a World Environment Day Starter Pack, which will give you the tools to create even more sustainable habits.

The starter pack includes - a notebook with seeds, a bamboo pen, a sustainable coffee cup and more.

To discover more about our CSR policies in general please visit our CSR page.

Many areas of society are still underrepresented in the professional services sectors, and we want to use our privileged position to challenge this.

Now is the time to act. Now is the time to listen.

It’s been a tough couple of years and we’re proud of what we’ve achieved. But if we’re completely honest with ourselves it’s clear that our sector still mostly serves a specific demographic.

After some reflection, we realise it's not enough to simply offer the same to every student. Some of our students come to us from more disadvantaged backgrounds: due to their home life, their education, or the discrimination they’ve faced.

Our Equality, Diversity, and Inclusivity (EDI) steering group

So in 2020 we put together a team, made up of people from all over the business who have the passion and influence to make real change. Many of these people can see first hand the issues some students face, and this gives us insight into what needs to change.

Much of this insight comes directly from our apprenticeship EDI learner data .This allows us to understand the demographics of approx. 60% of our student population. This year, however, we are to launch a new data capture tool to get an understanding of all students.

So far, our steering group has helped facilitate many internal changes. We now deliver inclusivity training to all managers and tutors in the company, and we have incorporated EDI learner training within our learning platform MyKaplan. We have also reviewed our company policies to ensure that learners are protected as students with us.

Collaborating with other companies

We are also focussed on helping people from underrepresented and diverse backgrounds get the career opportunities they deserve. So we’ve started work building relationships with organisations that share our concerns.

Companies such as Career Ready, RefuAid, and Rareqol have partnered with us to help create internship programmes for those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

We have also initiated a period poverty pilot and awarded scholarships to those who are disadvantaged.

But this is just the beginning

We need to be sensitive to cultural differences internally too...

From the way we design our apprenticeships and programmes, the way we teach, the way we support and provide services, EDI needs to remain at the forefront of all our thinking.

Creating brighter futures: Kaplan’s outreach support

And for lasting change to happen, our efforts must be shaped by those affected by discrimination. Feedback is vital.

So through our annual survey we’re now discovering how inclusive our learners thought we were over the course of 2021, plus we hosted our first Kaplan-wide EDI summit in January this year. Through our EDI focus group meetings, conversations are ongoing so that this subject stays on the agenda.

We’re listening

We’re not trying to promote ourselves with this public call to action, we’re trying to hold our hands up and claim that we could do better. The first step towards change is accepting that change needs to happen.

If you are working for an organisation that shares some of these concerns and you see an opportunity to collaborate then please reach out. Or if you’re a learner and have any thoughts around how we can work better and be more inclusive - get in touch.

CFA® Institute announced the cancellation of the London test centre for the December 2020 exam due to local COVID-19 requirements and regulations.

Here’s what you need to know about the December 2020 CFA exam cancellations:

• If your exam has been cancelled, you can register for any 2021 exam date (you cannot register for another location in December).
• If you have been impacted by both a June and December CFA exam cancellation, you qualify for a refund from CFA Institute. You must submit your refund request to them between 7th and 21st December 2020.
• If you currently use Schweser’s 2020 CFA online study materials, we have already extended your access until 15th June 2021 as part of our candidate support program.

We’ve created a video to help you to understand the changes, your study pathway choices and extra study support provided.

Alternatively, if you're short on time, you can find out which sittings you can take when by looking at this handy infographic produced by the CFA Institute.

If you’re currently studying with another prep provider, we’re delighted to give you access to a series of free masterclasses to keep you on track.

If you have any questions, you can drop us an email at citybookings@kaplan.co.uk.