There is a perception that apprenticeships are inferior to college courses. For any student with ambitions to pursue an apprenticeship, this can be off-putting. In September however, Ireland’s first degree apprenticeship programme will begin, which will allow students to work towards a BA in Insurance Practice while also earning a salary. This ‘best of both worlds’ programme, which was recently announced by the Insurance Institute, involves insurance companies nationwide preparing to hire 100 professional apprentices interested in pursuing this career path.
Apprentices will complete the
degree portion online through distance learning with IT Sligo and The Insurance Institute, the industry’s educational body; each are collaborating on the development of the programme. Irish Country Living spoke with Michael Barrett, head of the Department of Business in IT Sligo, about the new course.
Q: Why did IT Sligo want to get involved with this apprenticeship?
A: There were a few different factors that inspired us to submit an application to the Apprenticeship Council for this apprenticeship. It is no secret that the industry has experienced something of a vacuum in talent in recent years. We’ve seen successful apprenticeship programmes work in Switzerland and Germany, so it seemed like the natural solution for both employer and employee to develop a national standard in the form of a government-approved apprenticeship programme that can be rolled out across any insurance business.
Q: What motivated the founding of this course?
A: The motivation for this programme is to provide the required skills and competencies needed by the Irish insurance market in the future. For employers, the scheme is an excellent way for their staff to learn key skills in a cost-effective and comprehensive manner, and for the apprentices themselves, it is a very worthwhile alternative to the traditional third-level university route.
Q: What kind of a personality would this apprenticeship suit?
A: It would suit a person with the motivation and capacity to learn. Someone who has good communication skills, is a team player, takes ownership and accountability for their own actions and responsibilities, has attention to detail and is willing to commit to a three-year programme with one employer.
Q: Who are the companies involved?
A: The prospective employers range from large general and health insurers, large-to-small brokers, loss adjusters and assessors, and other niche employers engaged in non life insurance activities. At present, those employers that have expressed an interest are in the process of being assessed for suitability to employ an apprentice. When they are approved, they will be listed on the Insurance Institute website and prospective apprentices can apply to them from links provided.
Q: How does someone go about applying?
A: Anyone interested can apply to an approved employer who will recruit and select the apprentice. There are minimum entry level criteria. Please keep an eye on our website at: www.iii.ie/careers/apprenticeships, where we will shortly publish the list of approved employers.
Q: Is there competition for places?
A: The applicant will need to contact employers with available places and compete for the apprenticeships. It is important to note that apprentices are employed under a contract of employment and are selected by the employer. IT Sligo or the CAO have no role in the selection of apprentices.
Q: What kind of a salary do people start on?
A: The salary is set by the employer. Current guidelines state that payment to an apprentice should be commensurate with the industry rate for the job and in accordance with the national minimum guidelines.
Q: When is the closing date to apply for the programme?
A: The closing date to apply for the programme is 31 August.
Q: What kind of job roles will people enter as a result of doing this?
A: By the end of the apprenticeship, the apprentice will be fully competent in one of the following core industry roles:
Underwriting (assessment and/or determination of applications for insurance cover)Claims (determining the outcome of claims arising from contracts of insurance) and/or Provision of advice to third parties in connection with insurance requirements.Q: How can a course like this benefit both employer and employee?A: The university graduates who do come into insurance companies rarely have the key workplace competencies they need to hit the ground running, nor do they have the minimum competency regulatory qualifications as required by the Central Bank. Not only is this costing organisations in terms of training and development, but they now have a cohort of employees who’ve become disheartened by the idea of having to do even more exams after three or four years of college.
IT Sligo is delighted to engage with the Insurance Institute of Ireland on this programme. By engaging with their members and their consultation process means that the course
meets the current skills needs of the industry which will in turn benefit the industry.
There is a perception that apprenticeships are inferior to college courses. For any student with ambitions to pursue an apprenticeship, this can be off-putting. In September however, Ireland’s first degree apprenticeship programme will begin, which will allow students to work towards a BA in Insurance Practice while also earning a salary. This ‘best of both worlds’ programme, which was recently announced by the Insurance Institute, involves insurance companies nationwide preparing to hire 100 professional apprentices interested in pursuing this career path.
Apprentices will complete the
degree portion online through distance learning with IT Sligo and The Insurance Institute, the industry’s educational body; each are collaborating on the development of the programme. Irish Country Living spoke with Michael Barrett, head of the Department of Business in IT Sligo, about the new course.
Q: Why did IT Sligo want to get involved with this apprenticeship?
A: There were a few different factors that inspired us to submit an application to the Apprenticeship Council for this apprenticeship. It is no secret that the industry has experienced something of a vacuum in talent in recent years. We’ve seen successful apprenticeship programmes work in Switzerland and Germany, so it seemed like the natural solution for both employer and employee to develop a national standard in the form of a government-approved apprenticeship programme that can be rolled out across any insurance business.
Q: What motivated the founding of this course?
A: The motivation for this programme is to provide the required skills and competencies needed by the Irish insurance market in the future. For employers, the scheme is an excellent way for their staff to learn key skills in a cost-effective and comprehensive manner, and for the apprentices themselves, it is a very worthwhile alternative to the traditional third-level university route.
Q: What kind of a personality would this apprenticeship suit?
A: It would suit a person with the motivation and capacity to learn. Someone who has good communication skills, is a team player, takes ownership and accountability for their own actions and responsibilities, has attention to detail and is willing to commit to a three-year programme with one employer.
Q: Who are the companies involved?
A: The prospective employers range from large general and health insurers, large-to-small brokers, loss adjusters and assessors, and other niche employers engaged in non life insurance activities. At present, those employers that have expressed an interest are in the process of being assessed for suitability to employ an apprentice. When they are approved, they will be listed on the Insurance Institute website and prospective apprentices can apply to them from links provided.
Q: How does someone go about applying?
A: Anyone interested can apply to an approved employer who will recruit and select the apprentice. There are minimum entry level criteria. Please keep an eye on our website at: www.iii.ie/careers/apprenticeships, where we will shortly publish the list of approved employers.
Q: Is there competition for places?
A: The applicant will need to contact employers with available places and compete for the apprenticeships. It is important to note that apprentices are employed under a contract of employment and are selected by the employer. IT Sligo or the CAO have no role in the selection of apprentices.
Q: What kind of a salary do people start on?
A: The salary is set by the employer. Current guidelines state that payment to an apprentice should be commensurate with the industry rate for the job and in accordance with the national minimum guidelines.
Q: When is the closing date to apply for the programme?
A: The closing date to apply for the programme is 31 August.
Q: What kind of job roles will people enter as a result of doing this?
A: By the end of the apprenticeship, the apprentice will be fully competent in one of the following core industry roles:
Underwriting (assessment and/or determination of applications for insurance cover)Claims (determining the outcome of claims arising from contracts of insurance) and/or Provision of advice to third parties in connection with insurance requirements.Q: How can a course like this benefit both employer and employee?A: The university graduates who do come into insurance companies rarely have the key workplace competencies they need to hit the ground running, nor do they have the minimum competency regulatory qualifications as required by the Central Bank. Not only is this costing organisations in terms of training and development, but they now have a cohort of employees who’ve become disheartened by the idea of having to do even more exams after three or four years of college.
IT Sligo is delighted to engage with the Insurance Institute of Ireland on this programme. By engaging with their members and their consultation process means that the course
meets the current skills needs of the industry which will in turn benefit the industry.
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