To bridge the gender gap in insurance employment, seven of the largest names in the insurance industry have signed on to the third iteration of Inclusivity Partners’ “Cross-Market Insurance Returners” programme.
Aon, AXA XL, Chaucer, Lloyd’s of London, Lockton, WTW, and Zurich Insurance Group have all committed to offer employment opportunities to participants of the programme. Inclusivity Partners’ programme looks to provide employment to women returning to work - including some who have been out of the workforce for up to 15 years.
Career breaks for women professionals are not always about having children, said Inclusivity Partners. Other reasons include caring for elderly parents, divorce, international relocations, setting up a small business, or returning to study.
“Unfortunately, the biggest challenge career returners face is getting that first foot in the door, which can be difficult to open after years out of the workforce. But the results from our previous two programmes show that if we can help them get over that one big hurdle, we know that our candidates will prove themselves,” said Inclusivity Partners founder Stephanie Dillon.
As part of the programme, the insurance companies that have signed on will offer participants upskilling and mentoring. Support will also be provided to hiring managers to help them bring their returner up to speed.
“This programme gives candidates the time and space to prove they are worthy of rewarding jobs at some of the industry’s most well-known employers,” explained Dillon.
Inclusivity Partners said that it had placed 24 returners total from the two previous programmes. Of the first batch of returners, 14 of the 15 candidates were either in permanent roles or have had contracts extended. The organization also noted in a statement that candidates participating in the programme came from a wide range of backgrounds, such as catastrophe management, brokering, underwriting, risk and compliance, legal, IT, project management, and ESG. Their salary levels have also varied, from mid-level to senior candidate levels.
