Marvin OnumonuNatWest Group will expand its financial education programme into UK workplaces in 2026, aiming to help address the confidence gap in investing.
The bank will extend its free Financial Foundations programme to 50,000 people in workplaces and community groups, providing guidance on budgeting, saving, and investing.
NatWest Group will train over 300 new facilitators to support this expansion, adding to its current network of around 400 colleagues.
These facilitators will deliver practical workshops nationwide.
The new investment-focused workshop will launch in May 2026, offering simple advice on the basics of investing.
A survey commissioned by NatWest Group in March 2026 found that 58% of 5,000 UK adults said they would be likely to take part in a financial education session on investing if it was offered in their workplace.
Those under 35 were twice as likely as those over 35 to believe employers should provide financial education.
Paul Thwaite, CEO of NatWest Group, said: “A strong economy needs financial confidence and capability – the knowledge and skills that help people and families budget, save, invest and plan for the future.
“This is a vital part of our economic infrastructure and is often overlooked.
“Household saving and investment decisions play a critical role in the economy, yet too many people still feel uncertain or excluded from the knowledge and tools required to successfully make those decisions as part of their long term financial planning.”
Thwaite added: “Building a stronger culture of financial confidence across the full spectrum, from everyday budgeting and on to saving and investing, starts with education, whether in schools, workplaces or at key life moments.
“That’s why we’re extending our Financial Foundations programme to allow us to take more of our colleagues’ expertise into the communities we serve, helping more people build financial confidence and resilience.
“Our new investment workshop aims to break down barriers to investing by offering practical guidance, building on the existing programme, which has been running since 2024 and has helped develop confidence in saving and money management for over 31,000 people in the UK in 2025.”
Economic Secretary to the Treasury Lucy Rigby, said: “Financial literacy matters to the health of people’s finances, and to the health of our economy.
“I’m delighted to see NatWest Group committing to extend their financial education and literacy programme to give people access to new and improved financial skills.”
Alpesh Khakhar, chief financial officer at The Barcode Warehouse, said: “Our colleagues found the Financial Foundations investment workshop extremely beneficial.
“Even for those with some experience of investing or a good understanding of managing money, the opportunity to have open conversations and receive simple, impartial guidance helped to break down barriers that can exist.
“We’re looking forward to more of our colleagues across the UK having the chance to take part in future sessions.”
