Insurance training and development business Wiser Academy has announced an offer for prospective starters within the industry: a two-day introduction set of courses called ‘introduction to insurance,’ free of charge.
The courses, which will run at the rate of one each month for the rest of the year, are part of Wiser Academy’s ongoing efforts to meet the current recruitment challenges in the industry, especially within broking.
Wiser Academy managing director Crescens George said that 50 people have already signed up for the first course, which will start on Feb. 20 and 21, although he aims higher, stating that his goals are to get 500 people through the courses by 2024. The two-day introductory course will educate participants on insurance basics including regulation, risk, structure, claims, ethics, and professional behaviors.
George said that the free insurance courses are “designed specifically for new starters to broking, especially smaller brokers who don’t have their own training and development facilities in-house.”
“We’re aiming for 50 people for each of the courses. There is no charge for doing the course as Wiser Academy is 100% committed to playing its part in encouraging people to make the most of their new career in insurance,” George said.
George also noted the current turmoil within the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), which makes these free insurance courses even more important for Wiser Academy. It is their way, he said, of “helping new starters get to grips with our industry quickly, so that they can move on to take their professional qualifications.”
George also noted that the academy is keen to hear from independent brokers who may have one or two new executives joining the ranks recently. The courses are also fully online, so there’s no need to worry about travel or accommodation costs.
“It’s a great way to get a grounding in insurance and to gain knowledge of the basics,” he said.
In January, South West insurer Higos added 10 college leavers to its roster as part of the company’s apprenticeship programme with Wiser Academy. This initiative is another of Wisesr Academy’s “Rise Up” programme.
“There’s a broader challenge for our sector in the shortage of talent at all levels in insurance, which tends to create wage spirals and companies taking staff from each other,” George said. “Getting new joiners to kick-start their career in a supported manner is vital means of keeping them in broking, and we hope the industry will respond positively to this new course.”
What are your thoughts on this story? Please feel free to share your comments below.
