The FSA's aim is to progress its relationship with small businesses so that it can rapidly identify those firms most in need of regulatory attention before the December 2008 TCF deadline.
Building on its current risk-based approach, the FSA is introducing an ongoing programme of structured visits to approximately a quarter of firms, alongside telephone assessments to test the quality of management and progress towards embedding TCF.
The results will help inform its risk profile of individual firms so that it can better target resources at the firms that pose the biggest risk to its objectives.
Speaking at a Forum at the FSA's Edinburgh Office, Hector Sants, chief executive of the FSA, said these assessments will provide direct benefit to those firms who are trying to do the right thing and treat their customers fairly, and are in addition to the help it already gives to small firms.
He said: "We want to help small firms better assist their customers, many of whom are seeking advice on some of the biggest financial commitments they will ever make. Firms' management must ensure that the FSA's TCF initiative runs through every aspect of their businesses.
"Small firms are making progress on TCF, but we would like to help them accelerate the process. We are therefore increasing the contact we have with small firms to improve the rate of this change and to enable them to better help their customers."
Ninety per cent of the firms regulated by the FSA are small. It uses data supplied by firms and other sources to give an overview of each small firm and to spot industry trends, in particular to identify issues that might pose risks to consumers.
It also uses firm visits and telephone assessments to supervise individual firms or as part of FSA thematic work, and to inform its firm education and communication tools.
