Overview
This is the only professional employee share plan qualification available in the UK. The course offers a broad perspective on share plans within the UK and internationally. Participants will learn practical tips as well as achieving a good understanding of the legal, regulatory and tax environment in which share plans operate.
Designed and taught by Tapestry’s industry-leading lawyers, it is a professionally recognised qualification, delivered online so you can take the course anywhere – at home, the office, or wherever you are in the world.
After successfully completing the assessments you will be awarded the Certificate in Employee Share Plans and will be entitled to upgrade your membership to CG (Affiliated).
Registration is now open for Tapestry’s 2026 Certificate in Employee Share Plans Course (Cert. ESP)!
Combining technical know-how with workable examples
Expert tuition from Tapestry’s legal and compliance experts
Share best practice and experiences through networking opportunities
Practical tips and up-to-date information on key legal and regulatory topics
Book before 31 December 2025 to secure the early bird course fee!
Our 2026 course price is £4,850 plus VAT.
Register now and pay by 31st December 2025 to get our Early Bird rate of £4,450 plus VAT.
in partnership with
Details
- Format: Self study
- Cost: £4,850
- Early Bird Fee: £4,450 Register and pay by 31st Dec
- Part 1 dates: 11 - 15 May 2026, Exam 1 Jul 2026
- Part 2 dates: 14 - 18 Sep 2026, Exam 4 Nov 2026
- Online group teaching with smaller breakout sessions
- No formal qualifications required
- Eligible for CGIUKI affiliated membership upon completion
Content
The virtual course is delivered in two block sessions, each of which are run over five short days and can be completed within nine months, supported by self-study.
Topics covered include |
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Share plan design |
Accounting for share plans |
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Law and regulation, including market abuse and governance |
Reporting and disclosure |
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Executive and all-employee share plans |
Administration, including administration agreements and data privacy |
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Tax and National Insurance |
The global operation of share plans |
Assessment of this qualification is by examination.
Suitable for
The Certificate in Employee Share Plans course has been designed especially for:
- Company secretaries, assistant company secretaries and those supporting the company secretarial function;
- Administrators, both those within companies and those providing services externally;
- Human resource professionals, those working within companies in designing and communicating employee share plans;
- Benefit consultants who advise on employee and executive share plans.
This qualification is for share plan practitioners on the issuer side: those working in company secretarial or administration roles, human resources professionals and consultants, as well as other third party (non-legal) providers such as administrators. It is not suitable for those offering private legal services or advice.
You do not need any formal qualifications to enter the course however, participants should have at least GCSEs.
Apply
Find out more about the benefits of studying this course and apply.
Need help?
Email Gabby at Tapestry compliance