Future Skills Framework
A guide to prioritising investment, boosting competitiveness, and securing the sector’s future success.
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13 skills for future success
As a diverse and dynamic industry, the skills needs of financial services are broad and vary according to role, business function and sub-sector. Firms experience skills gaps due to high demand for many critical skills, and lack of supply in the workforce. To meet those needs we created the Future Skills Framework. It enables organisations to identify and build future skills, and prioritise investment across thirteen core technical skills and behaviours which are crucial to the sector’s future success. It provides a consistent set of definitions, as well as helping to develop new and emerging career pathways, skills assessments and accreditations for individuals currently working, or aspiring to work in, financial services.
Developed by the sector, for the sector
First launched in 2021, the Future Skills Framework was developed collaboratively with our members. It was most recently updated in 2025. The framework identifies skills where there are acute shortages and/or rapid and growing demand. It is based on assessments of the largest supply and demand skills challenges, as reported in our annual member surveys. The Future Skills Framework is part of the wider suite of tools developed alongside our members, including the Skills Gap Analysis Toolkit and the Skills-Based Organisation Framework.
Download the Future skills framework
What industry leaders say...
“At Barclays, we have been delighted to have worked alongside the Financial Services Skills Commission to help produce this framework, as we are working hard to equip everyone with the right skills for the future. For example, we have been investing in solid foundations to be able to integrate skills across our HR Processes – and our streamlined and consistent talent framework, together with improved technology, will help enable greater insights on our workforce to inform our upskilling, reskilling, and strategic hiring priorities.”
Laura Farrelly, Head of Development & Skills, Barclays
Ready to take the next step?
We are here to help. Talk with us about the framework and how you can make faster progress as a member of the Commission.
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