Visible Start is expanding its reach into the health and protection insurance sector to help address talent shortages in the industry.
The firm delivers structured workforce re-entry and talent engagement programmes designed to unlock the commercial value of midlife women for employers.
It runs a 10-week online workforce re-entry programme that prepares experienced midlife women to re-enter professional roles with confidence and updated skills.
Programme content is housed on its community platform that has a membership of nearly 2,000 midlife women.
It has been working with advertising giant WPP and is now looking to engage with organisations operating in the health and protection insurance sectors.
“For insurers and other health and protection businesses facing talent shortages, succession gaps, and the need for stronger client trust and diversity, Visible Start offers a practical, scalable solution,” the firm said.
Participants receive training in transferable skills articulation, AI and digital fluency, confidence and professional identity rebuilding, CV, interview and workplace readiness and understanding modern workplace dynamics.
For employers, the firm said this creates access to a work-ready, experienced talent pool, professionals with strong emotional intelligence and relationship skills and candidates well suited to advisory, underwriting support, client services, claims, compliance, and financial adviser pathways.
Sponsors have 12 months’ access to the cohort, creating an ongoing hiring pipeline rather than a one-off recruitment event, it noted.
“As the programme is sponsor-funded, employers engage with pre-qualified, motivated candidates who have already invested in upskilling and structured development. This lowers hiring risk and improves retention potential,” it added.
‘Deliver commercial upside’
Visible Start founder Jacquie Duckworth said: “What makes Visible Start so special is its ability to demonstrate two things.
“First, to our cohort of midlife women, that they have value and worth in the workplace and that their transferable skills will deliver commercial upside to any business that embraces this crucial demographic.
“Second, that the sponsors we work with recognise that a multi-generational workforce is both necessary and provides them with a competitive advantage at a sustainable investment cost.”
WPP associate director demand operations Katie Smith said: “Visible Start affects more than just the ladies on the course, meeting all the wonderful ladies during the speed mentoring made me also take stock.
“It made me think about what and how I would treat people returning to work. It also made me chat to loads of people in the office over the following weeks.
“Visible Start gains more traction than just that of those included.”
Kaye James, a graduate from the 2025 cohort, added: “It’s been an absolute joy to be a part of this community. Visible Start really does make you feel more visible – as a strong, experienced, skilled woman with so much to offer.
“It allows us to shine a light on our own skills, values and unique experience and how essential our contribution is.
“The programme as an interactive process with a fabulous community has been a huge part of the magic that inspires action. I can’t recommend this highly enough.”