The London & International Insurance Brokers’ Association (LIIBA) will be hosting the largest group placement in the financial sector – the upReach Xperience – in the first week of July, extending the opportunity to those who would otherwise not have access to the industry.
Xperience will extend the initiative to 30 university students from disadvantaged backgrounds to gain experience and insight into the London insurance market with engagement across 16 city-based firms, including LIIBA member firms.
The week-long programme will allow attendees to complete a placement with one of the participating firms. This Friday, students will be invited to Lloyd’s of London for an introduction to Lloyd’s Lab – a facility dedicated to the creation of ideas and products for the insurance market.
On the side, Xperience will also provide networking opportunities and will be hosting workshops on certain skills, including data usage and regulation.
Jacqueline Girow, diversity and inclusive lead at LIIBA, said the upReach Xperience had been “a long time in the making.”
“We’re excited to see one of our key initiatives come to fruition,” Girow said. “It is important to all of us at LIIBA that we fulfil our strategic objectives and create a more open and inclusive space across insurance and finance…We are proud to pioneer opportunities for those who would otherwise not be able to access the industry.”
In addition, Xperience allows the broker representative body to improve its diversity and inclusion efforts in the financial sector as the programme welcomes everyone regardless of background.
“We are delighted that LIIBA has managed to secure so many work experience places within the London insurance market for our new Xperience programme,” said Stephanie Lieber, acting chief executive officer of upReach. “Thirty of our associates will benefit from valuable work experience placements that represents the largest single placement of this initiative across the financial services sector.”
The programme will commence with a project brief and reception to welcome students on Monday.
