BSA & Verisio Due Diligence Service Launch Webinar

• Date: March 07, 2023
• Time: 12:30 – 13:30
• Cost: Free of charge to members
• Audience: All BSA member schools in the UK who recruit international students
• Platform: Zoom (online)

Course outline

Our members who recruit international students understand the enormous benefits of doing so, but what about the risks?

Schools may inadvertently breach sanctions regulations and become exposed to significant reputational risks where the source of international funds is not being adequately reviewed. Student sponsor schools also have a duty to ensure they are recruiting genuine international students, mitigating against the risk of exploitation and trafficking.

How can schools be sure that the source of their international fee income is from lawful means?  How can admissions staff conduct due diligence on their international parents and other school fee payers?

BSA in partnership with Verisio is delighted to launch a bespoke service for UK boarding schools. We will carry out due diligence on the key risk areas permeating international student recruitment to provide clarity and peace of mind on source of funds and emerging relationships. This free of charge webinar explains how, and is essential for all schools which recruit international students.

The new service will couple Verisio’s expertise in ethical and effective international due diligence with BSA’s understanding of UKVI compliance requirements in independent schools, to ensure best practice in knowing who your school is doing business with. This is a data driven solution to the money laundering and people trafficking risks posed by international applicants to UK independent schools.  We can provide you with the security of knowing who your international parents are, how they make their money, who their business associates are and the source of their funds.  This ensures that you are equipped to manage any associated risk.

Our expert speakers are Kate Hollyer, Director of Legal and Public Affairs, BSA Group and Mark Taylor of Verisio Ltd.  The session will be chaired by Caroline Nixon, International & Membership Director, BSA Group, and there will be time to ask questions at the end of the webinar.

Outcomes:

1. Awareness of the risks schools are exposed to through international market recruitment.
2. Insight of UKVI student sponsor licence responsibilities and risks of non-compliance.
3. Understanding of the BSA/Verisio Due Diligence service and how to mitigate risks.

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Speakers:

Kate Hollyer, Director of Legal and Public Affairs, BSA Group

Kate is Legal Director of BSA Group and Director of BSA Legal Services Ltd. As a qualified solicitor with more than 10 years’ experience advising clients on UK immigration law, Kate assists members with all immigration and safeguarding legal matters. Prior to joining BSA in 2022 Kate was Partner and Head of Department at a leading full-service UK law firm. Having resided in state, preparatory and senior school boarding houses since 2014 with her Housemaster husband, Kate has a unique perspective of boarding life.

Mark Taylor, Verisio Ltd

In a previous reincarnation Mark founded The Taylor Partnership – supporting U.K. independent schools in meeting the compliance demands of their UKVI sponsor licences and training many school staff. More recently, after travelling the world, Mark has identified the increased risk to independent schools as a result of the need for greater probity and due diligence in financial awareness of school suppliers, parents and agents. Mark’s interest in this field was first sparked in 2016-17 when he supported a number of schools following the disappearance of students from Vietnam.

Mark is working in partnership with Verisio, a specialist organisation concentrating on integrity and due diligence checks on corporations and individuals.

Caroline Nixon M.A. (Oxon.), M. Ed., FTIOB, BSA International & Membership Director, Director BAISIS

Caroline has worked in international education for over 30 years.  She is International & Membership Director at Boarding Schools’ Association, Director of British Association of Independent Schools with International Students and Director of Caroline Nixon Education Ltd., as well as a member of the advisory group to the British Government’s All Party Parliamentary Group for international students.

Caroline set up and runs the BSA educational agent certification scheme and is involved with the BSA’s accreditation of international schools.  Her background is in international education marketing and she also set up and ran a leading international school in the UK.  She has helped several UK schools to establish new overseas branches, advised an international school opening in the UK, set up a guardianship agency for an educational group, and advises schools on international marketing and academic and pastoral provision for their international students.