8 Dec 2008

Chaucer Insurance begins first Apprenticeship scheme

Chaucer Insurance, the Whitstable-based, motor insurance division of Chaucer Holdings PLC, a large, worldwide Lloyd’s insurer, has teamed up with the National Skills Academy for Financial Services and Orpington College to offer its staff an apprenticeship in Retail Financial Services.

The pilot programme begins in December and will incorporate learning in the following areas:

• Technical knowledge
• Key skills – numeracy and communication
• Work based competences

Stephen Smith – (South East Regional Director for the National Skills Academy), said “by undertaking an apprenticeship, you can get industry recognised qualifications without having to make the choice between work and study”

Nemesia Willis – (Learning & Development Consultant – Chaucer Insurance), said “Our people already invest a lot of time and effort in their learning and the apprenticeship will both support and reward this, as well as providing an industry recognised qualification.”

Successful apprenticeship candidates will achieve two industry recognised qualifications from the Chartered Insurance Institute, an NVQ in Retail Financial Services which demonstrates competence along with key skill qualifications in communications and the application of numbers.

Mike Smith – (Group Learning & Development Manager – Chaucer Insurance)
“I have been really enthused by the efforts of the National Skills Academy and Orpington College, who have been really helpful in setting up our first programme. We expect this to be the first of many apprenticeships and will be looking to expand its reach to more and more staff; both new and existing.

This initiative is also picking up on the Government’s push to tackle what they see as a shortage of skills in the country. In a speech in January 2008, Gordon Brown spoke of his desire for Britain to have ‘the world’s most highly skilled workforce’ and apprenticeships are one of the ways this will be delivered.”

For more information:

Maria Maxwell
Marketing Co-ordinator
Chaucer Insurance
Tel: 01227 284772
Email: maria.maxwell@chaucerplc.com

Notes to Editors

Chaucer Insurance is the UK Motor Division of a Lloyd’s syndicate managed by Chaucer Syndicates Limited, part of Chaucer Holdings PLC, a specialist insurance group listed on the London Stock Exchange, which provide the capital and management required to undertake business at Lloyds, the world’s leading insurance and reinsurance market.

Chaucer Insurance employs approximately 300 people at its Whitstable office.