Cass Business School first of select few to receive SII 'Centre of Excellence' designation

Notes and media contacts

For further information on Securities & Investment Institute contact Lora Benson, Press Officer Tel: +44 020 7645 0662

For further information about Cass Business School please contact Amanda Chick, Press Officer, tel: +44 (0)20 7040 5274

*SII full membership includes access to the SII CPD scheme, free access to the SII searchable information library SII Infolink, free receipt of the SII Regulatory Update which offers guidance on financial services regulations, free attendance at all CPD events, free access to the Institute's Professional Interest Forums (PIFs) and a 30% discount on all SII conferences and training courses.

The Securities & Investment Institute (www.sii.org.uk) was formed in 1992 by members of the London Stock Exchange. Its mission is to set standards of professional excellence and integrity for the securities and investment industry, providing qualifications and promoting the highest level of competence to its members, firms and others.

The Securities & Investment Institute is now the pre-eminent professional body for those who work in the securities and investment industry in the UK. Over 30,000 members benefit from a programme of professional training and development. The Institute is the principal awarding body for industry qualifications and last year its examinations attracted 38,000 candidates.

The Securities & Investment Institute is also a registered charity.

Charitable Objectives:

• to promote for the public benefit, the advancement and dissemination of knowledge in the field of securities and investments
• to develop high ethical standards for practitioners in securities and investments and to promote such standards in the UK and overseas.
•to act as an authoritative body for the purpose of consultation and research in matters of education or public interest concerning investment in securities

Cass Business School

Cass Business School, City University, delivers innovative, relevant and forward-looking education, training, consultancy and research. Located on the doorstep of one of the world's leading financial centres, Cass is perfectly positioned to be the intellectual hub of the City of London. Our dialogue with business shapes the structure and content of all our programmes of study, our executive education programmes and our research. Our MBA, Specialist Masters and Undergraduate Programmes have a reputation for excellence in professional education. Our Executive MBA is ranked 15th in the world by the Financial Times.

The school undertakes research of national and international significance and supports almost 100 PhD students. Cass has the largest Finance Faculty and the largest Actuarial Science & Insurance Faculty in Europe. Our finance research is ranked 2nd in Europe and 4th in the World outside the US by Financial Management Magazine and our insurance and risk research is ranked 2nd in the world by the Journal of Risk and Insurance.

Within Cass, CassExec has been creating and delivering executive education to the world of business for more than 15 years. The disciplines we cover range from finance and insurance through to leadership, corporate governance and risk. At the heart of our success is the importance we place on working in partnership with our clients to construct bespoke programmes that truly meet their business needs.

Cass is a place where students, academics, industry experts, business leaders and policy makers can enrich each other's thinking. For further information visit: www.cass.city.ac.uk