CII : Everything you need to know

About the CII

The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) is a professional body for the global insurance and finance planning profession. It promotes high standards of integrity, business capability, and technical competence in the insurance sector across 150 countries.

The organisation’s membership covers claims, broking, underwriting, and sales in the insurance sector as well as those working in the life and pensions sector. It also supports independent financial advisers and mortgage advisers.

The CII is accredited by UK examination regulator Ofqual. Its qualifications are recognised within the English national qualification frameworks. They are also considered evidence of knowledge and understanding as well as a focus on developing broad professional capability.

History of the CII

The CII was incorporated by Royal Charter in 1912 to “secure and justify the confidence of the public in its members and the insurance sector.”

The Royal Charter came from His Majesty King George V, making the organisation a single entity with the same rights and powers as an individual. As a result, the governing body and its staff and members benefit from limited liability concerning the organisation’s debts and legal actions.

The CII remains committed to relevant learning, engaged membership, and insightful leadership. Its members are also committed to high professional standards by focusing on professional development and adhering to ethical code.

Leadership at the CII

Sian Fisher – CEO

Fisher has been leading the CII since 2016. She is also the non-executive director at Asta Underwriting Management, the vice president of the Insurance Institute of London, a board member of Insurance United Against Dementia (IUAD) and a columnist for Insurance Business UK.

She has a wealth of experience in the industry – having served senior roles at Marsh, Hiscox, Gallagher and Asta Underwriting Management. She is also a founding member and executive chair of the Insuring Women’s Futures initiative and a committee member of the Insurance Supper Club.

Culture at the CII

The CII supports its members through its e-mentoring platform, research panel, awards, and new generation programme.

The e-mentoring platform helps CII members establish and develop mentoring relationships either for career development or for sharing industry experience. The members can interact in person, via Skype, or through email. The platform also allows users to tailor their search to find a suitable mentor, decide the areas of knowledge that match their skills and experience, connect with other members through meetings and interactive tools, and expand their knowledge by watching helpful videos and articles.

The organisation presents awards for exceptional performance in its qualifications alongside its Rutter Medal and Morgan Owen essay competition. Meanwhile, the new generation programme provides members with learning opportunities such as an interactive session with the FCA, talks from members of the parliament and organisations in the insurance industry, and training on leadership and dealing with the media.

The CII makes a social impact by insuring women’s futures, launching a public trust index, supporting diversity in the sector, taking care of the environment, and supporting charities.

The organisation’s programme for women aims to promote and enhance the insurance and personal finance profession’s role concerning women and risk.

It also designed the public trust index to measure consumer confidence in the sector. Meanwhile, CII shows its commitment to helping the environment by incorporating climate change into its investment strategies, supporting climate awareness among its customers, and reducing its environmental impact.