The Skills Council for Financial Services received its contract from the Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA) this week.
It follows the announcement that the Skills Council has been granted a development licence by the SSDA.
The Skills Council will spend the next six to nine months formulating its business strategy and enrolling members.
If the scheme is a success, the council will be granted a full licence in April 2004.
Skills Council chief executive David Jackman said: "The Skills Council will be a focus for lobbying as well as providing services to help with human resources problems.
"It will also co-ordinate standards."
The Skills Council will also be tasked with attracting high quality people to the industry and building Resourcenet, an online learning platform.
Hosted by comedian and actor Tom Allen, 34 Gold, 23 Silver and 22 Bronze awards were handed out across an amazing 34 categories recognising brilliance and innovation right across the breadth of UK general insurance.
