The Insurance Practitioner Apprenticeship creates vital talent pipeline as 91% of surveyed graduates have remained in the insurance sector.
97% would recommend the Insurance Practitioner Apprenticeship to others.
82% of surveyed graduates say the opportunity to earn whilst achieving a Level 8 BA Honours Degree was one of the main reasons for choosing the Insurance Practitioner Apprenticeship .
76% plan to undertake further qualifications in the insurance sector in the future.
The Insurance Practitioner Apprenticeship, a three-year programme, which enables apprentices to earn a full-time salary, whilst studying remotely for a BA Honours Degree in Insurance Practice, is calling all prospective apprentices to apply for the next cycle, kickstarting September 2024.
Now in its 9th year, the apprenticeship is open to everyone, school leavers, new graduates, career changers and older learners, who meet the entry requirements. The work-based training programme combines academics delivered remotely through ATU Sligo (Atlantic Technological University) with on-the-job learning, allowing apprentices to acquire technical and business skills while studying towards a degree. Apprentices will earn two APA designations in year one, the full QFA in year two and the BA Hons in Insurance Practice in year three.
A recent survey of previous graduates revealed that 91% are still working in the insurance sector and 68% continue to work for the same employer they completed their apprenticeship with. Asked what motivated them to choose the Insurance Practitioner Apprenticeship, 82% said it was the opportunity to earn whilst achieving their degree; 12% said it was the appeal of a secure industry/future; whilst 3% said they were motivated by a specific desire to work in the insurance sector. Most encouragingly, 97% of respondents said that they would recommend the the Insurance Practitioner Apprenticeship to others.
48% of all graduates have achieved first class honours, with the programme having the highest percentage of females in an apprenticeship with a near even split of 53% females and 47% males, an age profile of 18-55 years old and has celebrated its completion by graduates spread right across the country who successfully Earned and Learned their way through the programme to-date. The programme also works with over 80 employers across Ireland.
Born from a desire to bring new entrants into the insurance sector, almost a decade on, the programme has achieved this and more – it has not only led to an influx of new talent, but it has also enabled insurance employers to put the right staff with the right skills in place, ensuring their business and the wider industry remains competitive and fit for the future.
Anyone interested in applying for this year’s programme can click here to find all the information they need.
Minister of State, with responsibility for Insurance, Neale Richmond said: “I am very pleased to be here today to help launch the 2024 Apprenticeship Programme. On-the-job apprenticeships are a fantastic opportunity to upskill while working and earning a full-time salary, and I am delighted to see their success in the insurance industry. Any initiative that nurtures talent in the insurance industry is to be welcomed; there are many opportunities in insurance and as Ireland is a leader in Europe for insurance, we must ensure that our workforce has the skills it needs both now and into the future. Increasing the number of apprenticeships is a goal for this Government and so I am glad to see this programme continue to grow. I wish all the apprentices this year the best of luck, and hope that you have long, successful careers.”
Dermot Murray, CEO The Insurance Institute says: “We are incredibly proud of the growth of our Apprenticeship programme over the past nine years. Last year we welcomed a record number (130) of new apprentices and that’s a testament to the resilience, success and diversity of the programme. It also signifies a broader societal shift in terms of the realisation of the value of apprenticeships and the immense opportunities they present. We look forward to welcoming our 2024 apprentices and would like to thank the insurance employers involved in the programme for their support and commitment.”
Joanne Keane, CEO LIA also commented: “The Insurance Practitioner Apprenticeship presents both apprentices and employers alike with a completely unique and invaluable opportunity – not to mention the benefit for the wider insurance sector. The practical nature of the apprenticeship ensures that the apprentice gains on-the-job knowledge while obtaining the underlying academic award. The benefits of being able to immediately put what they are learning into practice while studying cannot be overstated.”
Daniel McMorrow, a graduate of the Insurance Practitioner Apprenticeship and Motor Damage Manager at Allianz PLC says: “Embarking on the Insurance Practitioner Apprenticeship was a no-brainer for me during a time of career uncertainty. Completing the programme transformed my job into a fulfilling career, equipping me with the attitude, work ethic, and confidence to excel. It changed my life entirely, providing structure and direction where there was none. Now, I am part of the management team for the department I once joined when I began my apprenticeship at Allianz. The value and experience packed into this apprenticeship surpass anything I could have gained elsewhere.”
For further details on the the Insurance Practitioner Apprenticeship click here or contact apprentice@lia.ie.
Photo: Joanne Keane, CEO, LIA, Neale Richmond TD and Dermot Murray, CEO, Insurance Institute Ireland, Dr Mary Liz Trant, Director of the National Apprenticeship Office with graduates Zach O’Halloran, Arachas, and Gillian Doyle, Zurich Insurance