Following an early career in teaching, Howard joined the financial services industry where he became a key figure in developing the technical processes and client communications policies of the emerging profession of financial planning. This involved adapting complex technical financial information into terms that members of the public could understand and act upon.
Howard formed his own financial planning practice in 1989 and was awarded a Fellowship of the Institute of Financial Planning. He was also one of the first in the UK to qualify for the international Certified Financial PlannerTM licence
In 2004 Howard became Research Fellow in Financial Education at NIACE (National Institute of Adult Continuing Education) and wrote widely on financial learning including professional journals, learning materials and web content, financial trade press features. An important part of this work involved working with the then Financial Services Authority and other partners to develop the UK Financial Capability Strategy.
As a long-standing NED of Doncaster Chamber of Commerce and local Business Links, in 2010 he was called on to become Chief Executive at Doncaster Chamber of Commerce, where he was responsible for stabilising the Chamber and re-engineering relationships with local and national stakeholders following the 2008 financial and economic crisis. He also held full responsibility to the Board for securing and leading a number of business support programmes commissioned by European Regional Development Fund, Department of Work and Pensions and Doncaster Council among others.
He returned as a Senior Associate of NIACE, subsequently, the Learning & Work Institute, where he has provided technical analysis and advice on 24+ Advanced Learning Loans for the Skills Funding Agency. He has also created learning resources for Experian on managing credit and for the Department of Health to help professional support workers dealing with young adult carers and their finances. His background and experience in business is also used to support projects in skills and economic development. He is a member of the Money and Pensions Service national steering group on workplace financial capability. He is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Securities and Investment and also holds a current international Certified Financial PlannerTM designation.
Howard has joined the Lincoln International Business School to help it become the global first choice for gaining the professional qualities for aspiring world business leaders.
