The Chartered Insurance Institute has launched a free virtual experience programme aimed at creating the next generation of insurance and financial planning professions.
The programme will see thousands of young people aged 13 and over, from schools, colleges and universities across the UK get the chance to experience working in these sectors.
It will also help them to build an understanding of the skills and characteristics needed to be successful and help them to make informed decisions about their potential future career paths.
The CII has partnered with workforce experience platform Springpod to create the first wave of experiences. The first programme is focused on the insurance sector this autumn, with a personal finance programme to follow in early 2024.
While hundreds of students have already signed-up, the Institute’s ambition is to reach 3,000 students over the next four years.
Scheme participants will gain a foundational knowledge of the insurance sector and discover what roles are available and which skills they will need to succeed. The programme runs ‘live’, and includes virtual modules, quizzes, activities, webinars, discussions and roundtables.
This latest initiative follows a range of CII and Personal Finance Society activities aimed at developing talent for the insurance and financial planning professions. That includes My Personal Finance Skills, which reached 25,000 children last year, as well as involvement in apprenticeships, T-levels, and delivery of its flagship Next Gen scheme.
The application deadline for the first cohort is 18 October 2023.
Claire Bishop, career partner manager at the CII, said: “This is an exciting new initiative that will bring the insurance and personal finance professions to life for thousands of young people.
“Virtual work experience takes away the barriers traditionally experienced by many young people when they are considering a profession or work experience.
“Giving many more young people, from diverse backgrounds, access to this programme for free will empower the next generation to take their future into their own hands, and to widen the talent pool for our professions.”
Russell Higginbotham, president at the CII, (pictured) added: “I am delighted that the CII has launched this exciting new initiative, which builds on the great success of other programmes and activities that our membership bodies already run to encourage young people to join the insurance and personal finance professions.
“I hope as many schools and colleges as possible take the opportunity to give their students this terrific experience, which could help some young people discover a rewarding career path that they might not have previously considered.”