This growth is driving the need for finance professionals to be fully versed in what is happening within the private equity market. This is where practical training on private equity and related disciplines can aid financial professionals to stay ahead of the game as well as fulfil this year’s quota of CPD hours.

The financial and other techniques used in the private equity industry are not particularly new. But what is new is the combination of techniques employed, including financial leverage, precise structuring of complex debt and equity instruments, financial forecasting techniques, market research and due diligence on the management team.

These project appraisal techniques are then combined with sophisticated fund gathering techniques to enable each private equity firm to establish substantial funds and then aim at the largest targets in the corporate field.

Of course, those already involved directly in private equity deals have a primary need to keep up to date with what is happening. Relevant CPD training is invaluable not only in ensuring they fully understand the workings of private equity but also to give new entrants the confidence to become involved in a wide variety of ‘real’ situations.

More broadly though, the requirement for a working knowledge of the variety of techniques used and issues emerging in the sector applies to accountants within a huge range of corporates, which could become the target of an attempted or successful private equity approach, as well as advisers to these firms.

After all, when companies of the size of Boots and Sainsbury’s are ear-marked as desirable targets, it becomes increasingly clear that this more than a passing fad. Instead private equity has become concrete facet of modern capital markets that we can ill afford to ignore.

As new investors are approached and new countries around the world begin to consider the possibilities of developing their own private equity industry, the demand for experienced people will continue to grow and alongside this runs the need for continual personal development and training.

Bob Hawken is chief executive of professional development at BPP Professional Education