NatWest Group is broadening its free Financial Foundations education programme aimed at enhancing investment knowledge among the UK public.
The banking institution aims to extend the initiative to encompass 50,000 individuals from workplaces, charities, and community groups by 2026. To facilitate this growth, NatWest Group will train an additional 300 employees as facilitators, adding to an existing team of approximately 400 staff members currently conducting practical in-person workshops.
Investment Education in the Workplace
A new investment-centric workshop will launch nationwide in May 2026. This module is designed to empower more individuals to grasp the fundamental concepts of investing and enhance their financial confidence.
This launch builds on the existing programme, which already addresses essential financial skills:
The initiative aligns with a rising demand for employer-sponsored financial literacy. A survey conducted in March 2026, involving 5,000 UK adults and commissioned by NatWest Group, found:
- Nearly 58 percent of participants expressed a likelihood to engage in a financial education session on investing if offered by their employer.
- Younger adults under the age of 35 are twice as likely as those aged 35 and older to believe that employers should provide financial education (9 percent versus 4 percent).
Support from Industry and Government
To commemorate the launch, NatWest Group’s CEO, Paul Thwaite, participated in the inaugural Financial Foundations investment workshop at Barcode Warehouse, a digital transformation firm based in Newark, Nottinghamshire.
Thwaite remarked, “A robust economy relies on financial confidence and capability—skills and knowledge that empower individuals and families to budget, save, invest, and plan for the future.” He emphasized that financial education is often neglected, despite its critical importance to economic stability.
Thwaite highlighted that household savings and investment choices are vital to the economy, yet many individuals feel either uncertain or excluded from essential long-term financial planning tools.
The initiative coincides with an increasing national emphasis on financial literacy, complementing recent reforms by the FCA aimed at making investment guidance more accessible, thereby addressing the longstanding advice gap in the UK.
Lucy Rigby KC MP, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, endorsed the undertaking, stating, “Financial literacy impacts both individual financial health and overall economic stability. I am pleased to see NatWest Group committing to enhance their financial education and literacy programme to provide people with access to improved financial skills.”
Building on a Solid Foundation
The Financial Foundations programme has already established considerable momentum. In 2025, NatWest conducted 1,500 workshops that reached over 31,000 participants. Feedback from attendees indicates strong engagement with the programme.
This latest initiative is a pivotal aspect of NatWest Group’s five-point ‘Growing Together’ strategy, which seeks to foster conditions conducive to nationwide growth by enhancing financial confidence among families and younger individuals.
In addition to group workshops, NatWest Group offers complimentary, confidential one-on-one Worksite Financial Health Checks (FHCs). These sessions, facilitated by trained senior personal bankers, are available to employees of business customers—regardless of their banking affiliations—to provide tailored support and assist individuals in achieving their financial aspirations.