Another big union contract for Lighthouse Group

(ShareCast News) - Another big union signed up for the services of Lighthouse Group on Thursday, with the company revealing its new deal with the University and College Union (UCU).The AIM-traded financial advisor said the contract would run for three years from 1 February 2016, and under the terms Lighthouse would be the preferred provider of financial advice to UCU members, encompassing advice on savings, investments, pensions and protection, as well as mortgages.Lighthouse said the UCU contract added to its already established relationships with the Association of School and College Leaders, and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers.It also further extended the company's list of "affinity partnerships", which Lighthouse said inclused major employee organisations such as UNISON, usdaw, Unite, BA Clubs, Prospect, Parliament Hill and the Royal College of Nursing."We look forward to developing our relationship over the coming years and working closely with UCU members to assist them with their financial planning requirements", said Lighthouse chief executive Malcolm Streatfield."The board remains committed to increasing our affinity partnerships throughout the UK", he added.Lighthouse said the UCU represented more than 120,000 academics, lecturers, trainers, instructors, researchers, managers, administrators, computer staff, librarians and postgraduates at universities, colleges, prisons, adult education and training organisations across the UK."We are delighted to have secured this contract with Lighthouse, which will enable us to facilitate financial planning assistance for our members on a truly national basis and ensure they are able to secure financial advice in what often appears to be a very complicated financial planning landscape", said UCU national head of resources Linda Newman.At 0945 GMT, shares in Lighthouse Group were up 2.6%, trading at 9.88p.