Providing the Skills for the Future - The Insurance Practitioner Apprenticeship

Insurance is a people’s business – meaning that the relationships we cultivate, as professionals working in the sector, both with our customers and our colleagues are central to everything that we do. Insurance has always been this way and your success in your career is very much dependent on your ability to nurture and maintain strong relationships – and while the industry has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, with technology and innovation central to every aspect of our work – the human aspect, and the importance of our relationships are still paramount.

As many of you working within the sector will know, digital tools have swiftly and effectively transformed our sector in recent times – and the pace of change has been rapid. However, while currently there is much discussion about jobs becoming automated, I believe like many in the industry, that technology will be an experience enabler, and not a substitute for human connection. There is no denying of course that technology and digital transformation will continue to dramatically transform the way we work – for example, it’s estimated that by 2030 more than half of claims activities will be replaced by automation – but this does not necessarily mean a loss of jobs, in fact I believe it means that insurance as a profession will become even more significant, with roles within the sector evolving, and with that will come a greater requirement for more technical skills and a strong focus on professional qualifications. This creates a wonderful opportunity for our industry, and while we already have a skilled workforce, our talent will become even more highly trained, educated, and agile.

The Insurance Practitioner Apprenticeship, which will this year welcome its seventh intake of apprentices, creates the perfect training ground for this future landscape. The programme provides apprentices with the skills that are needed in the industry now, but also into the future – working with leading industry professionals and thought leaders around the country, as well as across Europe, the programme syllabus and its delivery is always being enhanced and tweaked to reflect current and future trends.

Not only that, but the apprenticeship embeds academic qualifications into its structure (apprentices achieve a BA Hons in Insurance Practice) and this ethos of learning creates an understanding of its importance to career development and trajectory – cultivating this appreciation for education at the beginning cannot be underestimated, as it serves new recruits and apprentices well as they will continue to prioritise their professional development throughout their career.

As mentioned, it is expected that into the future, professional qualifications and education is set to become even more crucial to working in insurance – and this can only be a positive for the industry. In recent years, the apprenticeship has been enormously influential in shifting the mindset and the reputation of insurance as a job, to insurance as a profession - which it quite rightly is. This trend looks set to continue as we embrace this new digital age, and where we as an industry prioritise the education and qualifications of our talent. It is an exciting time to work in insurance and I for one am looking forward to seeing what the future holds.

Recruitment for the 2022 Insurance Practitioner Apprenticeship is well underway and there is still time for any insurance employer or prospective apprentice to get involved. As many of you will know, the three-year programme, which was Ireland’s first degree-level apprenticeship, sees apprentices work full-time for an insurance employer, with one day per week devoted to their online lectures (run in partnership with ATU Sligo). Apprentices have the unique chance to earn a living, gain real work experience and achieve a third-level qualification. While employers on the other hand gain a highly motivated employee who is at the forefront of their professional development. For more information on the 2022 programme head over to www.earnandlearn.ie or feel free to reach out to me or the team [email protected]