The East of England is facing a challenge of achieving more with less, according to the new regional director of the National Skills Academy for Financial Services (NSAFS).

John Carter, who has taken on the role covering the East of England, has 25 years' experience as an employer in the sector.

Previously, as head of learning and communication at the Norwich office of Marsh, and later, Capita, Mr Carter was involved in creating and delivering a bespoke training programme to a team of 600 staff.

His new role will be to nurture talent and skills development in the local financial services sector, of which Norwich is a major hub.

Norfolk-born Mr Carter said: 'The challenge facing the East of England is to achieve more with less. The training and development options offered by NSAFS make a real difference to businesses and will play a pivotal role in helping local industry thrive.'

Since October 2009 he has acted as lead trainer on a number of projects for the NSAFS in the region, including a �4m project for Norwich City College and the University of East Anglia, supporting individuals, SMEs and organisations in Norfolk out of the recession.

Since launch in May 2007, the NSAFS partner network has grown from four to over 20 training provider partners located across seven regions in England.