1. Student Finance Consultants

2. Contents Regional Student Finance Consultants Progress to date Work with partner organisations Memorandum of Understanding The future

3. Regional Student Finance Consultants Recruited from LA and HEI staff to capture existing experience Regionally based to meet the challenge of enabling the delivery of Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) locally Close working relationships with partner organisations and local delivery agents Full training programme and external accreditation Focus on getting the best customer experience for students

4. Progress to Date 4 Regional Consultants in post (East & West Midlands, South Central, North West) 5 more in post by end July 2008 (Yorkshire & Humberside, South London, South Coast & IOW, South West, North East) Further recruitment session in August 2008 (South East, North London, East Anglia) Meetings with Partners have commenced and requests to attend events are being received Memorandum of Understanding between SLC and partners being drawn up Consolidation & knowledge gathering

5. Working with Partner Organisations NASMA HELOA Connexions Next-Step HEI Student Advisory Services

6. Memorandum of Understanding To be agreed at national level for guidance at local delivery levels. Shared objective of providing high quality Student Finance IAG. Not legally binding. Statement of intention to work together. Invites partners to become active participants in SLC IAG development and delivery. Student Finance Consultants to become active participants within partnerships to promote closer working arrangements and encourage better customer service. Improved communications/information sharing between partners.

7. Memorandum of Understanding (2) Organisation of joint National events. Compare schedules and details of local IAG events to avoid duplication of work or enable participation. SLC materials and literature to become the standard for information on Student Finance. Agreed two-way referral and resolution process for student enquiries. Review arrangements to highlight gaps or particular successes.

8. The Future Focus on getting the best Customer Experience for Students Recruitment of remaining Regional Consultants Further knowledge gathering Getting to know partners and regional contacts Identifying best practice and how to share it Train the trainers Implementation of procedures to enable efficient delivery of IAG

9. Any Questions?