Ready to own your financial advice business?
We can help you get there with our dedicated training programme.
We can help you get there with our dedicated training programme.
Get ready to head up your firm with Route to Principal
We call the owners of our partner firms ‘Principals’. These people are the cornerstone of our partnership, playing a vital role across our organisation as drivers of growth and role models for others.
Becoming a Practice Principal is one of the biggest career transitions an adviser can make. It’s a move that goes far beyond technical advice skills, requiring commercial confidence, leadership capability, strategic thinking and a clear vision for growth.
What is Route to Principal?
Route to Principal (R2P) is a 10‑month, CPD‑accredited development programme that combines face‑to‑face learning, virtual sessions, eLearning and mentoring. It provides a structured, end‑to‑end learning journey that takes advisers from aspiration to confidence as a business owner and leader.
Delivered by expert trainers from the Openwork Business School, alongside experienced Practice Principals and internal/external subject‑matter experts, R2P focuses on the real‑world challenges of building and running a successful advice firm, not just the theory.
Who is it for
Who is the Route to Principal programme for?
R2P has been specifically designed for Openwork advisers who are either planning to transition from Adviser to Principal within the next 18 months, or have become an Openwork Principal within the last 18 months.
Why Route to Principal matters?
Launching or taking over a practice can feel overwhelming. R2P gives advisers the clarity, confidence and skills to not only start a business, but to lead it successfully for the long term.
Why should I become a leader with The Openwork Partnership?
Building and owning a successful advice business can be immensely rewarding, but it involves a huge amount of work and determination.
Route to Principal gives you the confidence, expertise and resources to conquer the challenges of owning your own business, giving you the best possible chance of success in your early days. You’ll have the freedom to build your business however you want, safe in the knowledge that you’ve got an established network behind you.
Don’t just take our word for it. The Route to Principal programme is accredited by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), adhering to the highest standards in our industry and underscoring our commitment to our advisers.
Get ready to lead your advice business.
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Programme Learning Objectives
Demonstrate the knowledge, skills and capabilities required to be a successful Openwork Principal.
Define the core knowledge underpinning various business activities and their inter-relationships for building and maintaining a dynamic financial advice business.
Develop an advanced understanding of business management in high-growth firms.
Operate strategically as a leader, ethical and sustainable business owner and a reflective practitioner.
Apply appropriate tools and techniques for positive change and growth and effectively evaluate and produce a strategic business overview.
More than a course. A network for the future
One of the most powerful aspects of R2P is the peer network it creates.
Delegates consistently highlight the value of learning alongside like‑minded advisers who are on the same journey, sharing challenges, ideas and support.
Participants also gain access to experienced Practice Principals and Openwork experts who bring practical insight, real examples and honest perspectives, helping delegates avoid common pitfalls and accelerate progress.
Douglas Barrow, Firm Development Manager:
“Because of the relationships that have been made and the ongoing support that the delegates and experts give to each other; the programme doesn’t finish on the last day.
We are dedicated not just to creating graduates but principals that can build, grow and lead their firms into the future. This means their clients have a safe and trusted home for their financial needs.
We have also created an Alumni, where we facilitate events and ongoing training to allow graduates to meet across cohorts.”
More than a course. A network for the future
Delegates consistently highlight the value of learning alongside like‑minded advisers who are on the same journey, sharing challenges, ideas and support.
Participants also gain access to experienced Practice Principals and Openwork experts who bring practical insight, real examples and honest perspectives, helping delegates avoid common pitfalls and accelerate progress.
“Because of the relationships that have been made and the ongoing support that the delegates and experts give to each other; the programme doesn’t finish on the last day.
We are dedicated not just to creating graduates but principals that can build, grow and lead their firms into the future. This means their clients have a safe and trusted home for their financial needs.
We have also created an Alumni, where we facilitate events and ongoing training to allow graduates to meet across cohorts.”
Ready to take the next step?
If you’re thinking about becoming a Practice Principal, or have recently taken that step, Route to Principal offers a proven, supportive pathway to help you succeed.
Advisers can join the programme by speaking to their Partnership Development Manager or by contacting the Openwork Business School for more information.