IIL article on value of apprenticeships features in Yorkshire Post

Investing in the next generation is crucial

James Ramirez is president of the Insurance Institute of Leeds and MD of Aria Insurance Solutions

One thing that I’m extremely passionate about is engaging with young people and young professionals to equip them with the tools, knowledge and opportunities to thrive and build a successful career.

As president of the Insurance Institute of Leeds - which is committed to helping members boost their careers through a programme of educational, social and networking events - I’ve been fortunate enough to identify opportunities to make a direct impact locally.

They include forming a dedicated committee, appropriately called the Emerging Insurance Professionals, which is run by young professionals to meet the needs of young and emerging professionals in the area.

The success of the group to date has reinforced how, by engaging with emerging talent, we can encourage their learning and development through greater interaction with each other and our professional body and help them to enjoy and flourish in the workplace.

As an Institute we encourage all levels of entry to the profession and were delighted to support National Apprenticeship Week across March 4-8. The wealth of case studies we promoted from past and current apprentices working in the local insurance market was upbeat and inspirational.

Their stories highlighted the skills and learning benefits they had derived from the Chartered Insurance Institute’s (CII) Aspire Apprenticeships programme - so called because it aspires to attract the best people. They also illustrated how instrumental it was that their learning and development had been supported by funding, which, depending upon the region, can be up to 100%

Apprentices enthused how, thanks to support and comprehensive training from their respective companies, they have developed and honed their understanding of the insurance market – an industry which some admitted they had previously not thought of working in and knew nothing about.

A common theme was how apprenticeships can provide a great alternative to University for those who enjoy practical learning, want to try out different roles and obtain professional qualifications on the job.

Those involved on the programme also stressed how it has boosted their confidence and taught them basic office etiquette along with how to make an impact - and the behaviours required to make a successful career in insurance.

It was also encouraging to hear how they enjoyed meeting and networking with their peers and fellow professionals through attending events including those organised by our Emerging Insurance Professionals group.

I welcome and applaud the fact that more companies are taking on apprentices and reaping a wealth of business-boosting benefits in doing so. The raft of advantages include increased employee satisfaction and loyalty, a means to cost-effectively attract and select new employees, train and upskill existing workforces - and develop specific skills and behaviours required by organisations and industries.

Promoting the insurance and financial services to the next generation of talent who we hope will enter the profession in the future will remain a high priority for the Institute.

Always looking to build relationships with local schools and universities, we offer our services to deliver interactive sessions, to attend careers fairs, help with mock interviews and assist with work experience.

Our Emerging Insurance Professionals make a key contribution in this area by relating to the students we are speaking with while developing their own skills at the same time.

We’ve also found that students are also more engaged and receptive to those closer to their own age and are keen to learn about the different paths open to them.

My colleagues and I volunteer our time to give back to our profession and I urge more Yorkshire businesses and employers to also give something back to the next generation – whether this is through apprenticeship schemes or volunteering and mentoring.

Shared knowledge, innovation and the wisdom of experience to nurture young talent and invest in the future will result in powerful ‘win-win’ outcomes.