Tapestry's Cert. ESP Course 2025
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!
Book now to secure the early bird course fee!
We are excited to announce that registration is now open for the 2025 Certificate in Employee Share Plans Course (Cert. ESP)!
Industry expert lawyers from leading law firm Tapestry are already beginning preparations for teaching the 2025 Cert. ESP cohort. The course is accredited by the Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland (CGIUKI). Course participants who successfully pass the examinations are eligible for affiliated membership and therefore have the opportunity to become members of the CGIUKI.
The course will run with virtual interactive teaching sessions, so you can take the course wherever you are – at home or at the office. We also have optional in-person events planned so you can benefit from face-to-face networking with your peers on the course.
Whether you want to learn about plan design, or how to develop and operate share plans effectively and compliantly, our industry-leading experts will give you the knowledge to find the solutions you need.
What does the course cover?
Tapestry’s Cert. ESP course is a must have for anyone who works with executive or employee share plans. This course will help you develop relevant knowledge about:
- plan design
- corporate governance
- legal requirements
- disclosure & reporting
- tax
- global compliance
The course is suitable for anyone working with employee share plans, including HR, in-house legal, reward or other compensation professionals, those working in company secretariat, external administrators, reward (or other non-legal share plan) professionals and benefits consultants.
How will the course be structured?
The course is split into 2 parts and each part will be taught over 5 short days on Zoom, finishing around lunchtime each day. The session timings are designed to ensure focus on the course is balanced with the demands of on-screen learning whilst also enabling students to fit in participation around other commitments.
The course will combine larger group teaching with participatory learning through smaller breakout sessions, each hosted by a Tapestry lawyer. These sessions ensure an interactive experience and the opportunity to learn from each other, with fun exercises and practical examples to help consolidate knowledge.
What qualifications do I need to sit the course?
There are no specific qualifications required for this course. However, please bear in mind that it is a stretching professional qualification with technical content – on some topics this will be in-depth to a level which might be expected of a first year undergraduate degree course. Students will need to be comfortable with covering this technical content in English. The course assessment is in the form of a knowledge-based written exam. Participants will need to invest time in studying outside the teaching weeks in order to get the most out of the course, and to achieve success in the exams.
Are there in-person networking opportunities?
Yes. One of the most valuable added benefits of the course is the networking opportunities that you get from being with your classmates outside of the office. So although the teaching will be virtual, we will be hosting optional in-person networking sessions in London. Dinner and drinks are on us!
How will the course be examined?
The course exam is knowledge-based and “closed book”. It is designed to test how much you know and understand about the subjects covered on the course. The exam has different types of question, carrying from 1 up to 10 marks each. Exams will be held virtually for the 2025 course – students will need to be comfortable typing text in English within a Word document to provide their answers. The exam dates are set out below.
What are the dates for the course?
Each part of the course will run over five short days. Times below are UK times.
Do I need to book time off work to attend the course?
Course participants should plan to attend the course teaching in an uninterrupted virtual learning environment. We know this can be challenging at times, however we do find a strong connection between active course participation and exam success. We therefore recommend that you and your employer treat the time you are attending the tuition (i.e. until around lunchtime each day) as being ‘out of the office’, just like you would if the course was in-person. There is time to work in the afternoons if needed.
Note that you should plan to attend all of the course tuition (and minimum attendance requirements apply). Course participants will also need to commit to self-study time to prepare for the exams.
How much will the course cost?
Our 2025 course price is £4,650 plus VAT.
Register and pay by 31 December 2024 to get our Early Bird rate of £4,350 plus VAT.
How do I confirm my place?
We very much hope that you are able to join us – please click the button below to book your place. Please indicate when making your booking if you are based in the UK or overseas.
What our course participants say...
A brilliant and practical course, taught by even more brilliant people, who all possess a real talent in teaching and educating others.
Isabel Baldwin, Phoenix Group
The Tapestry Certificate ESP is an elite program designed to equip professionals with the advanced knowledge and skills essential for excelling in their roles. Its practical methodology, expert-led instruction, and esteemed industry recognition make it an unparalleled investment for career advancement and professional development. I highly recommend this course to anyone seeking to deepen their expertise and enhance their proficiency in employee share plans.
Sheyla Doyle, Computershare
The course was put together with a lot of thought and technical expertise. Would highly recommend.
Kassandra Shipp, Vialto Partners
If you have any queries regarding the course, please do contact us. More information can also be found on our course website.
Best wishes
Team Tapestry