A government strategy launched this week could bring a better focus on skills in UK businesses and allow firms to have more of a say on qualifications, a financial sector skills organisation has said.

The National Skills Academy for Financial Services (NSAFS) this week welcomed government plans to shake up job training in its ‘skills for growth’ white paper this week.

Chief executive of NSAFS Sylvia Perrins said: "We welcome the stronger focus towards strategic skills, allowing businesses to shape the demand for skills.

"We welcome the commitment to expand the availability of higher apprenticeships, following our success with apprenticeships and advanced apprenticeships at Level 3 in the financial services sector."

She added that while in 2006 only a handful of people were involved in the financial services apprenticeship scheme, this year there were more than 1,000 new starters.

In the current economic climate, professional qualifications can provide an edge for people seeking jobs in the financial services sector.

Last month, The Times reported that graduate employers are also increasingly looking at GCSE scores to decide between candidates for jobs.

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