The Partners& “16 to CEO” apprenticeship scheme, established to encourage the next generation of talented young people from diverse backgrounds to explore the insurance industry as a viable career, has launched successfully.
Designed with 16-17 year olds in mind, the two week course was designed by the Partners& learning and development team and was delivered by members of the leadership team. It included a wide range of practical and interactive skill-building sessions, from interview training, personal brand awareness and presentations skills to work shadowing and meeting with senior leaders who shared their stories and how they advanced their career in the sector.
The first cohort of 10 apprentices attended the Partners& High Wycombe office. Feedback from participants highlighted features such as work shadowing, competitions and practical sessions helped to make the content fun and informative at the same time. They also either agreed or strongly agreed that they would consider a career in insurance when they leave school.
Natalie McClean, Partners& Chief People Officer, explained:
“The insurance industry is facing a recruitment crisis – our aim with this programme is to give young talent a vision of what a fulfilling career looks like, and set their ambitions to be a CEO one day. The fact is, people often say they never set out to be in insurance, and once they start, they rarely leave. The cohort of students we had in this launch programme were outstanding – engaged, interested and collaborative. It’s been a really great two weeks, and we’re thrilled with the feedback we’ve received.
“We’ll continue to work with Working Options in Education, our charity partner since 2022, to tap into schools across the UK and we’re really looking forward to supporting their development in the next phase!”
The “16 to CEO” programme is part of the social mobility focus of the Partners& Sustainability Strategy. Click here to find out more Sustainability | Partners& (partnersand.com)
