Training mismatch driving retention risk in specialist lending

Specialist lending professionals are calling for a fundamental rethink of training and development, according to the findings of the NextGen Talent Report 2026 published by Finance Connect in association with The Leasing Foundation and the NextGen Council of Receivables Finance Connect.

Download the full report here: https://finance-connect.com/building-a-career-in-asset-or-receivables-finance/

The research reveals a significant gap between the training employees receive and the development opportunities they value most, creating a growing retention challenge for employers across the asset and receivables finance sectors.

While 81% of respondents reported receiving mandatory compliance and regulatory training during the past two years, only 34% had access to mentoring and just 13% had completed an industry qualification. By contrast, 96% said job-specific skills training was valuable to their career progression, while 85% highlighted mentoring as one of the most important development tools available.

The consequences are already being felt. Almost half (47%) of respondents said they had left a role or seriously considered doing so because of limited development opportunities, while 45% would consider moving to a competitor offering a stronger training programme.

The issue is particularly acute among professionals with three to ten years’ experience, where 60% have either left or considered leaving due to a lack of career development support.

Alexandra McWilliams, Head of Brand & Communications at Simply Asset Finance and a director of The Leasing Foundation, said the findings should be viewed as a clear signal for change.

“It highlights real positives about the specialist lending industry,” she noted in the report’s foreword. “But it also highlights less positive but valuable findings that point to changes the industry needs to make. Chief among them is that the industry is not investing in training in the right areas.”

The report concludes that specialist lending firms are investing in training, but too much provision remains focused on compliance requirements rather than the practical skills, mentoring and career support employees believe will help them build long-term careers in the sector.

It calls for a more coordinated industry-wide approach to development, including greater access to mentoring, clearer qualification pathways and stronger links between learning and career progression.

The findings form part of the NextGen Talent Report 2026, published by Finance Connect in association with The Leasing Foundation and the NextGen Council of Receivables Finance Connect, and sponsored by Allica Bank, Arkle Finance Ltd, BPCE Equipment Solutions, Finance Education Centre, Haydock Finance Ltd, Novuna Business Finance, and Simply Asset Finance.