ICM Diploma Pathway

Credit Management, Jan 2009

Trade Credit Insurance Award

The Association of British Insurers' Trade Credit Committee (ABI) initiated the development of this new award. As the first benchmark qualification for trade credit insurance, this award is a significant achievement and demonstrates the Association's commitment to best practice and professionalism in the industry. The ABI has consulted widely with underwriters and brokers on arrangements, and representatives from ACE, AIG UK Ltd, Amlin, Atradius, CIFS, Catlin, Coface, Euler Hermes, HCC International and QBE have steered decisions on content and delivery mechanisms.

ICM Partnership

Several reasons influenced the decision to work with the ICM Awarding Body. Firstly, the ICM offers a high level of support and also the new ICM Diploma Pathway is relevant and flexible. In particular, the Pathway allows the addition of new units in specialised credit related areas and inclusion of units from other awarding bodies for example in insurance, marketing, management and leadership. Therefore from this award, employees have relevant and varied routes to qualification.

Content

As a baseline qualification, the trade credit insurance award aims to provide brokers and underwriters with general knowledge and understanding of the principles of trade credit insurance. This reflects ABI interest in the development of a qualification which is achievable for all.

Following a short online learning programme, learners will have a basic understanding of:

Flexible online study

The ABI had two requirements for the course. Firstly, the Association was committed to the principle of flexibility which online learning and testing provides. Secondly, the ABI wanted companies to have the opportunity to manage the learning progress and print certificates.

The ABI has kept individual fees down through the funding of initial development costs and adoption a cost effective learning model which involves a series of simple fact sheets and multiple-choice questions. Companies can register learners with ICM Training from January 2009 to gain access for a period of 6 months to ABI designed online learning. In addition, ICM Training offers optional extra support through the ICM Learning Support Service. Also, ICM Training can register independent learners who are not attached to a company scheme.

The basic fee of £50 VAT per person covers online learning registration and allows companies to print course completion certificates. Learners who wish to gain a nationally accredited award in trade credit insurance would need to pay standard ICM fees to register with the ICM Awarding Body and take an externally invigilated e-test. One-hour e-tests will be available four times a year from June 2009 at over 150 Pearson-Vue e-testing centres in the UK and on prior arrangement at selected centres overseas. The award will be worth nine Level 2 credits towards an ICM Diploma in Credit Management.

* Evening classes

Evening classes in credit management start at many ICM teaching centres in January (see next page). Also a variety of providers offer training days leading to ICM short awards.

If an evening class is not convenient, there are other study options. These include online learning, correspondence courses, supported distance learning and Saturday classes and personal email/telephone support through the ICM Learning Support Service and home study. For larger groups of learners, it may be cost effective to set up an in-company evening class. For more information, please contact ICM Education.

Email: diplomapathway@icm.org.uk. Tel: 01780 722909.

Evening classes

The following evening classes are planned for January.