The case for educated UK consumers : the National Consumer Council's consultation on consumer education

Consumer education is an integral part of the consumer empowerment mix. Over recent years the importance of consumer education as a vital tool for protecting consumers and making them better informed has been increasingly recognized in the UK. As part of the developing policy debate in the UK, the National Consumer Council (NCC), one of the key consumer champion bodies, has been arguing the case for a national strategy for consumer education. In order to establish whether a national strategy was needed and, if so, how a strategy could be structured and introduced, the NCC carried out a national consultation. In excess of 100 responses were obtained from a very broad range of organizations. This paper provides a review of the secondary data gathered for the NCC research. It was found that although there are many organizations and networks involved in consumer education in the UK, it lacks focus, is fragmented and is not efficient or coordinated. The research highlighted a need for a strategic approach to place educated and empowered consumers at the heart of the marketplace.div_BaM1. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) (2004) Extending Competitive Markets: Empowered Consumers, Successful Business. [WWW document]. URL http:// www.dti.gov.uk/ccp/topics1/consumer_strategy.htm (accessed on 26 October 2004). 2. Financial Services Authority (2004) Building Financial Capability in the UK. Financial Services Authority, London. 3. Office of Fair Trading (OFT) (2004) Consumer Education, a Strategy and Framework for Consumer Education . A consultation paper, OFT 735. Office of Fair Trading, London. 4. Department of Trade and Industry (1999) Modern Markets: Confident Consumers . HMSO, London. 5. National Consumer Council (2003) Creating Consumer Confidence: Consultation on Consumer Education. National Consumer Council, London. 6. Lyon, P., Kinney, D. & Colquhoun, A. (2002) Experience, change and vulnerability: consumer education for older people revisited. International Journal of Consumer Studies , 26 , 178-187. 7. Benn, J. (2004) Consumer education between 'consumership' and citizenship: experiences from studies of young people. International Journal of Consumer Studies , 28 , 108-116. 8. Ritters, K. (2003) Consumer Education in the UK. Trading Standards Institute, Essex. 9. Office of Fair Trading (OFT) (2004) Consumer Education: The OFT's Response to the Consultation . Office of Fair Trading, London. 10. Coppack, M. (2002) Complementing information and advice. Adviser , 91 , 49-51. 11. Brennan, C. & Ritters, K. (2004) Consumer education in the UK: new developments in policy, strategy and implementation. International Journal of Consumer Studies , 28 , 97-107. 12. National Consumer Education Partnership (1999) A Framework for the Development of Consumer Skills and Attitudes. [WWW document]. URL http:// www.ncep.org.uk/pdfs/framework.pdf (accessed 6 November 2004). 13. National Consumer Council (2001) Consumer Education: Beyond Consumer Information. National Consumer Council, London. [WWW document]. URL http:// www.ncc.org.uk/consumereducation/education.pdf (accessed on 6 November 2004). 14. Hayward, J., Coppack, M. & Wells, J. (2002) Consuming Passions . Institute for Citizenship and National Consumer Council, London. [WWW document]. URL http:// www.ncc.org.uk/consumereducation/consumer.pdf, http:// www.ncc.org.uk/consumereducation/index.htm (accessed on 6 November 2004). 15. Coppack, M. (2003) Educating Consumers Enterprisingly: NCC Response to Consumer Education Policy - A Way Forward for the OFT as the Enterprise Act Comes into force . National Consumer Council, London. 16. HMSO (2002) The Enterprise Act 2002 . HMSO/ Department of Trade and Industry, London. 17. Office of Fair Trading (OFT) (2003) Consumer Education Plans: A Way Forward for the OFT as the Enterprise Act Comes Into Force . Office of Fair Trading, London. 18. Office of Fair Trading (OFT) (2001) A Guide to the Office of Fair Trading - Who We Are and What We Do. Office of Fair Trading, London. 19. Scottish Consumer Council (2003) Scottish Consumer Council Briefing: Consumer Education in Scotland. SCC, Glasgow. 20. Coppack, M. (2003) It All Adds Up: A Consensus on a National Strategy for Consumer Education , National Consumer Council, London.29pub80pub