Background

The Enterprise Act 2002 gives the OFT new powers to use consumer education to support its work in making markets work well for consumers.  All documents on this page are pdf files.

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Consumer education Alliance event 2006

The second Alliance for consumer education event, hosted by the OFT, took place in November 2006 at the Barbican Centre, London. Over 100 delegates attended. The event included presentations and discussion around the role the media in developing consumer education, the lifecycle of a consumer education event and reaching adult audiences.

Photos and presentations from the day, as well as transcripts of the speeches and discussions, are available below.

Introduction (53 kb)
Keynote speech (64kb): John Fingleton, Chief Executive, OFT
Presentation: Lifecycle of a consumer education initiative (82 kb): Carol Edwards, The Consumer Council for Northern Ireland
Sofa discussion: the role of the media in developing consumer education (109 kb)
Breakout session: Consumer education – exploring the possibilities (66 kb)
Breakout session: Reaching adult audiences (59 kb)
Breakout session: Overcoming consumer inertia (58 kb)
Breakout session: Communicating consumer education developments (63 kb)

Presentations and handouts

Lifecycle of a consumer education initiative (211 kb): Carol Edwards, The Consumer Council for Northern Ireland
Consumer education – exploring the possibilities (166 kb): Juliet Wells, WA Partnership
Reaching adult audiences (125 kb): Paul Frost, Financial Services Authority
Overcoming consumer inertia (167 kb): Sam Dooley, Department for Work and Pensions
Communicating consumer education developments (1 mb): Paul Burton and Sam Brew, OFT
Photos (535 kb)

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Consumer education Alliance event 2005

In November 2005, the OFT hosted the first consumer education Alliance event at the Barbican Centre, London.  It was attended by over 100 delegates from business, consumer organisations, education, government bodies, regulators and trading standards. The themes of the day have been captured in a post-event document which includes transcripts of the keynote speech given by the OFT's Chief Executive, John Fingleton; the sofa session entitled 'Business and consumer education - unnatural bedfellows?' and the key issues from the various breakout sessions. This document can be downloaded below.

Consumer education Alliance event – post-event document (930 kb)

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OFT/FSA joint statement

See how the OFT's consumer education work fits with the financial capability strategy led by the Financial Services Authority - OFT/FSA joint statement. 
  

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Consumer education: A strategy and framework

In November 2004, following the consultation, the OFT published 'Consumer education: A strategy and framework'.  This was accompanied by 'Consumer education: the OFT's response to the consultation'.

Consumer education - A strategy and framework (40 kb)

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On 20 July 2004, the OFT published its consultation document Consumer Education inviting comments on the proposed strategy.

A stategy and framework for consumer education - A consultation paper (85 kb)
Consumer education - The OFT's response to the consultation (39 kb)

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In October 2003 the OFT set up a Consumer Education Strategy Group which was responsible for the development of the consumer education strategy and framework.

Back to: Consumer education