I worked with Neil on the development of the Oil & Gas Industry specific Corporate Award Training Programme for the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS). Neil was the CIPS Senior Consultant, Customer Development and he did exactly what it said on the tin.
The initiative was dragging its heels a bit until Neil came on board. His limitless tenacity, energy and attention to detail meant that the initiative regained its focus and the programme was launched in November 2010 with more programmes in the pipeline with commitment from a broad range of companies.
In simple terms, if Neil Young makes you a commitment to do something, then it is Neil Young who delivers. In any development programme, there are times when some of the people involved become tired or disengaged for a number of reasons. Neil's character and drive kept the momentum and it is no understatement when I say that if Neil had not come on board when he did we may well, as of today, still been at the 'thinking about it stage'. I don't think 'give up' has a place in the Neil Young vocabulary 
Steve Johnson MSc, FCIPS, FCILT Head of Global Procurement & Supply Chain Management, Prosafe Offshore Ltd
The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) Route
The Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning
To pass the Diploma you will need to pass 6 units and obtain 100 credits:- R01 – Financial Services, Regulation and Ethics (20 credits)
- R02 – Investment Principles & Risk (20 credits)
- R03 – Personal Taxation (10 credits)
- R04 – Pensions and Retirement Planning (10 credits)
- R05 – Financial Protection (10 credits)
- R06 – Financial Planning Practice (20 credits)
There is no prescribed order in which the units must be taken.
The exam format for R01 and R02 units is 100 multiple choice questions in a 2 hour examination, with a pass mark of 65%.
The exam format for R03, R04 and R05 is 50 multiple choice questions in a 1 hour examination. R03 and R04 have pass marks of 65% and R05 of 70%.
The exam format for R06 is a 3 hour written examination with 2 case studies on financial planning practice. The case studies should be received 2 weeks before the examination. The pass mark is 55%.
Please note that the Diploma in Financial Planning (J01-J07 units) is what the FSA has termed a ‘transitional qualification’ in that holders will satisfy the RDR qualification requirements, with any short-fall between the coverage of this qualification and the new exam standards to be met through ‘Qualification Gap-Fill’. Candidates enrolled for the existing Diploma in Financial Planning will also have access to the new Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning (R01-R06 units).
The advantage in sitting the new Diploma units is that these meet the new exam standards in full; this means there will be no ‘gap’ between these and the new FSA/FSSC exam standards that will need to be addressed through ‘Qualification Gap-Fill’ before the 2012 deadline.
Please note J01, J04 and J06 count for 20 credits due to the extent of syllabus overlap.
