Training firm ZISHI and the Intercontinental Exchange have marked the first anniversary of their education partnership which aims to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application in the finance industry.

The partnership, known as the Exchange and Clearing Development Programme (ECDP), has in the past year offered tailored workshops, virtual training and learning methods to enhance the knowledge and skills of financial professionals, the firms said.

Chris Jenkins, chief executive of ZISHI, said: “Collaboration between exchanges and education providers is vital for the evolution of the financial industry. Exchanges bring real-world market expertise, whilst specialist training providers like ZISHI, with our faculty of expert practitioners, are best placed to deliver targeted, hands-on education.”

ZISHI said the collaboration has proven crucial in advancing understanding in derivatives, clearing, market regulation, risk, treasury, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of market dynamics.

Neil Scurlock, head of ICE Education, said: “ICE has been an ardent supporter and administrator of financial educations programs for the last twenty years, based on our belief that creating financial education opportunities is integral to growing and harnessing the power, efficiency and transparency of exchange traded markets.”

London-based ZISHI said the partnership extends beyond programme delivery into sponsoring students from various backgrounds for a Level 5 Advanced Diploma in Financial Trading qualification, aimed at developing the next generation of market users.

Scurlock added: “We are proud to support this initiative to help broaden the students’ financial industry understanding, and in turn, nurture the next generation of market participants. The students were engaged, curious and pro-active.“

Entering the second year of collaboration, ZISHI and ICE plan to expand the curriculum, providing support resources for ICE members, and offering growth opportunities for clients and new entrants.

Jenkins said: “a strategic move to empower key decision-makers in businesses beyond the typical financial institutions with the expertise to deploy hedging strategies using derivatives.”

ZISHI said in September it is keen to partner with exchanges and trading houses to deliver more courses like the one the training firm delivered at that time with ICE.

The firm has grown rapidly in recent years, partly through bolt-on acquisitions. ZISHI bought FSTP in May 2021, BG Consulting in January 2021 and UK options training firm Volcube in late 2020.