Two-thirds of UK employees have never received any financial education

Two-thirds (64%) of UK employees have never received any personal finance education, according to research commissioned on behalf of the Open University Business School (OUBS) and Share Radio.

The research also revealed that while many employees claim to have a reasonable level of financial knowledge, what they have most recently learnt has often been the result of a knee jerk reaction to a major life event, such as leaving school or buying a first property, as opposed to being taught. Almost half (44%) of those surveyed also confessed that major life events were also the last time new financial knowledge was gained.

As a result of financial education being added to the school curriculum throughout the UK, the situation should improve among future generations. There is also a clear need for education among the current workforce, with just 7% having received any assistance from their employer. Moreover, four fifths (81%) of the UK workforce admit they would favour help from their employer to understand their finances. A third (33%) stated financial education would help them plan their financial future and 25% said it would help them to understand their pension. Of the ways employees would like their employer to help them, more than a quarter (26%) favoured one-to-one sessions and 22% would like the option of free financial courses.

In order to tackle the lack of financial education in the workplace, OUBS, through its dedicated research centre, the True Potential Centre for the Public Understanding of Finance (True Potential PUFin), has partnered with Share Radio, the UK’s only national dedicated personal finance radio station, to make the ground-breaking ‘Managing My Money’ eight week personal finance course easily accessible to any employers looking to encourage personal finance education among its employees.

The course, which starts afresh each fortnight, is free and is broadcasted via the DAB station. There are two 25 minute episodes per week, each with an online test. Following the final, more comprehensive test, students receive a Statement of Participation from The Open University. For the first time students will be allowed to name a third party who can monitor their progress and collect their qualification results. Upon completion participants can include the certificate to their CV to further build their job prospects.

It’s clear that many generations have suffered from a lack of formal financial education, and, while it was finally added to the school curriculum [in England] last year, there is a real need for many consumers to increase their knowledge of, and confidence in, financial matters.

By 2018 all employers will have responsibility for offering access to pension schemes, and there should be guidance on the schemes offered and the desirability for employees to augment their state pensions. Assessing how much income is needed in retirement requires budgeting skills and an understanding of taxation. In effect, pension guidance is a stepping stone to wider financial education.

Martin Upton
Director of True Potential PUFin

The days when personal finance consisted of simply receiving your pay and paying your bills are long gone. In today’s society consumers must not just be thinking about the month ahead but for the long term, including retirement. With the recent changes to pensions, employers now have a huge responsibility to ensure their workforce understand and have the knowledge to make those importance life changing decisions.

This is why we have partnered with the Open University Business School to broadcast the Managing My Money course, which we hope will help people to become more confident in handling and managing their finances.

Gavin Oldham
Managing Director at Share Radio

For more information on True Potential PUFin, visit the website.

Visit Share Radio for more information on the radio broadcast of 'Managing My Money'.