Anti-Money Laundering (AML) compliance remains a critical priority for firms across the UK.
With the FCA intensifying its focus on financial crime prevention, robust AML training is no longer just a regulatory checkbox—it’s a fundamental part of building trust, maintaining compliance, and protecting your firm against risk.
In 2025, staying ahead of the curve means implementing an AML training programme that doesn’t just meet regulatory standards but actively empowers your team. This is where a strategic mix of deep-dive and refresher training proves invaluable.
A quick note about us: Awarded 'Best Training Provider' at the 2023 Compliance Register Awards, Adempi Associates delivers high-quality compliance eLearning, tailored to the unique needs of financial services firms. With over 40 courses available online, including AML, we provide training that ensures your team stays competent, confident, and compliant.
Why AML Training Matters for UK Financial Services Firms
The FCA’s Money Laundering Regulations require all firms conducting regulated activities to provide regular AML training to their employees. Beyond fulfilling regulatory obligations, training equips your team with the knowledge to:
Recognise suspicious activities and transactions that may indicate money laundering or terrorist financing.
Respond effectively to potential risks, ensuring compliance with AML policies.
Protect the firm’s reputation by staying ahead of regulatory scrutiny.
Failure to provide adequate training can expose firms to significant fines, reputational damage, and even criminal liability for managers. As financial crime risks evolve, so should training provision so that teams are equipped with current, practical knowledge.
The right solution for our clients varies depending on a range of factors, including what kind of breaches have arisen recently, how in-depth knowledge within the team already is and learning style preferences. Whether it is in-person workshops or online learning, we can help you address the evolving needs year-to-year.
Could a training needs analysis help with your AML training plan?
For some firms, a training needs analysis can be invaluable in managing the risks of not doing AML training well.
By understanding where skills gaps lie, you can ensure that your team remains compliant, capable, and competitive. In a sector where mistakes are costly and reputations are hard-earned, training needs analysis can help you stay proactive, not reactive.
The result? Training that’s strategic, effective, and aligned with your firm’s goals, keeping you one step ahead in an ever-changing financial landscape.
You can find out more about training needs analysis in our recent post on the subject.
Trends for AML Training in 2025
The FCA expects firms to provide training that goes beyond generic content we see more and more firms looking to address specific risks relevant to their business model. We are increasingly being asked to provide in-person training and eLearning that dives deeper into:
Customer Due Diligence (CDD) processes to mitigate risks associated with high-net-worth clients and complex corporate structures.
Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) training to deal with higher-risk relationships and transactions.
Financial crime monitoring training for staff responsible for ongoing compliance.
Beyond technical knowledge, training should also instil a sense of shared responsibility for AML compliance across the organisation.
The Case for Combining Deep-Dive and Refresher Training
Effective AML training isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. A programme that blends comprehensive deep-dive courses with shorter, engaging refresher sessions
can offer a dynamic approach to learning.
Building a Strong Foundation
Deep-dive training is ideal for onboarding new employees or providing in-depth knowledge to staff directly involved in AML compliance tasks. For example, you might want these courses to include bespoke content tailored to your firm’s unique risk areas, such as sanctions compliance, high-risk jurisdictions, or specific transaction types.
In deep-dive training, we can include content such as:
Practical scenarios to help teams identify and respond to financial crime risks.
Insights into how criminals’ techniques evolve over time, ensuring staff stay ahead of emerging threats and understand the importance of adapting strategies to counter these risks.
Key regulatory updates, including FCA expectations and global best practices.
The interactivity of real-time training provides an extra way to really get into the risks facing your business or to get practical advice from our team on how best to manage AML at the firm. Workshops can also double up as an opportunity to conduct the annual refresher of, or to receive fresh thinking into, your financial crime risk assessment!
Keeping Knowledge Fresh
Annual refresher courses ensure that your team stays current. However, repeating the same material year after year, is not effective in helping staff to engage with the content.
We are always keen to keep content fresh and have used a range of methods to do this.
Many clients use our eLearning modules for refreshers, or vary between in person and eLearning to blend styles across the years. If using eLearning, we offer alternate and refresher courses, to help training be robust for the firm, and a worthwhile use of time for staff.
When thinking about refresher training, we focus on
Recent regulatory changes and emerging risks.
Snappy, engaging content that reinforces core principles without fatigue.
Opportunities to address new challenges, such as advancements in money laundering techniques or regulatory technology.
Meeting the Training Needs of AML staff
AML risks often differ across financial institutions. When creating training for those involved in AML prevention within a firm, we often agree that training should prioritise:
Understanding complex ownership structures to identify ultimate beneficial owners (UBOs).
Spotting red flags in large or high-frequency transactions.
Leveraging technology to enhance transaction monitoring and reduce false positives.
Training programmes tailored to these unique needs ensure your team can confidently navigate the challenges specific to your firm and industry.
Tailored sessions can highlight real-world examples relevant to each firm, driving home the importance of vigilance, collaboration and proactively managing risk.
The Bottom Line: Stay Ahead with the Right Training Strategy
AML compliance isn’t just about avoiding fines—it’s about safeguarding your firm’s reputation, protecting clients, and fostering a culture of accountability. By combining deep-dive training with engaging refresher courses, your team gains the skills they need to stay sharp, compliant, and prepared for the future.
Adempi’s AML training programme offers exactly this—a flexible solution designed to empower your team and streamline compliance. From in-depth courses to quick refreshers, we’ve got you covered.
Find out more
Ready to transform your AML or financial crime training strategy? We're here to talk through how we can help your firm meet FCA standards while keeping your team engaged and informed. You can reach us on 0203 925 4761 or contact@adempi.co.uk.
If you know eLearning is the right solution for you, you can skip right to booking a demo of our training solutions today .
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