A live trading floor in the City of London is delivering the UK’s first Ofqual-regulated qualification in professional futures trading.
The Advanced Diploma, a Level 5 qualification regulated by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual), has been launched by Divento Financials Ltd, a London-based provider of financial trader training that is part of Alpha Capital Group.
The qualification has been built to address a skills gap in London’s proprietary trading sector, where training has largely consisted of informal, platform-based tutorials rather than formal, regulated study.
The six-week course is taught in person from a live trading floor in the City of London, operated by Alpha Prime Markets, the proprietary trading company within Alpha Capital Group. Students train alongside the firm’s traders on the London floor, gaining direct exposure to a live market environment.
As part of a wider access strategy, Divento has offered free places to young people from under-represented backgrounds.
Divento Financials is a provider of professional trader training and qualification design, which was founded in 2008 by professional trader James Sullivan, and has created globally recognised financial trading qualifications supported by participating institutions within the industry. Previous clients include the Department for Work & Pensions, the City of London Corporation and various UK universities. Its qualifications are accredited by a Professional Awarding Body, endorsed by the CISI, and regulated by Ofqual.
Divento Financials CEO James Sullivan added: “We want to help even more people learn about financial trading through a trusted, experienced and accredited provider. We can now provide access to our courses to people who might not previously have had the opportunity, and help prepare them for a future career in financial services, whether that’s in trading roles or other positions within the financial services industry.”
Divento Financials became part of Alpha Capital Group in March 2026, sitting within the Group’s proprietary trading company, Alpha Prime Markets, which is based on a live trading floor in London. Alpha Capital Group also operates the subsidiaries Alpha Capital and Alpha Futures.
Alpha Prime Markets is a proprietary trading company operating from a live London trading floor with traders globally, providing clients who have demonstrated success on the company’s existing platforms with access to live trading accounts and professional support.
George Kohler, CEO of Alpha Capital Group, said: “We’re continuing to offer our traders access to more advanced technology, resources and, in this case, training courses endorsed by the CISI and accredited by VTCT.
“Clients will be able to undertake training online or within our London training room at Alpha Prime, where they’ll also be able to learn from being around a live trading floor, giving vital real-world experience. This is yet another way that we can help people from all backgrounds fulfill their potential as traders.”
