Former Liffe trader Martin Hills has struck a three-way partnership with a financial training firm and an online commentary service to launch an accredited training program aimed at retail traders.

London-based Financial eLearning, founded by Hills, has partnered with training specialist Trader Talent and LiveSquawk, the audio news service for traders, to launch an online training program that offers participants greater flexibility.

Hills, who traded for ED&F Man and Refco on the Liffe floor before stints at Trinity Broking and Marex, said advances in technology have enabled the partners to develop a program that can be adapted to fit around the requirements of the student.

Hills said “This combination of the three is the perfect complementary offering of the best tools to be a career trader, and to get there in your own time without putting your life on hold to do so.”

Raymond Otto, the owner of Trader Talent, said the new program will open trading opportunities to a broader range of prospective traders.

“Trader Talent breaks down the barriers for anyone looking to access prop firm trading by giving them a cost-effective chance to prove their talent on their own schedule. By combining the right education partners and trading tools like LiveSquawk, with a risk-controlled Try-out structure, backing partners are assured they are delivered well-informed, pre-vetted, budding traders with proven talent.” 

Harry Daniels, the owner of LiveSquawk, added: “As a long-time provider of financial news, LiveSquawk knows the importance of an educated audience. Not because it makes our life easier as a service but because over time it will stop the trader on the street from being run-over by the bigger guys with deeper resources."

Daniels concluded: “News alone won’t make you a better trader if you don’t know what it means to the markets you trade.”

The partners believe the new program will appeal to trading hopefuls who have been until now been put-off by the financial and time commitment demanded by established trader courses.

Prop trading firm OSTC has been investing in its trader training arm with a view to a public listing in the next two years and acquired in May UK-based training firm FSTP.