• Created in response to growth in work placements and internships
• Sector called on to provide good quality internships
The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) has launched its first good practice guide for internships in the general insurance and financial services professions.
The guide outlines how well-structured internships can be of great benefit to both interns and employers. It lays out a clear seven point code of practice and practical guidance on how this should be applied. In addition it calls on employers to sign the CII’s internships pledge. Already, firms including Direct Line, Willis and AON have agreed to sign the pledge in the good practice guide.
Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, said:
"Fair opportunity means a culture based on what you know, not who you know. Internships are a valuable experience for young people starting out in their careers and should be available to everyone, from all walks of life. This is not just good for individuals, but good for business too in ensuring we capture the best talent.
“Congratulations to the Chartered Insurance Institute for pulling together this resource and for doing their bit to open up Britain’s workplaces.”
Commenting on the launch of the guide, Caspar Bartington, relationship manager – education at the CII, said:
“The CII’s 2011 Skills Survey showed a significant growth in the number of firms offering work placements or internships – from 38% in 2010 to 50% in 2011. This is good news and coupled with the CII’s work via its outreach programmes to students, Discover Risk and Discover Fortunes, there’s a real opportunity to raise students’ awareness of the varied careers offered in our sector and for the sector to attract some great talent.
“To build on this the sector has a critical role to play by providing opportunities that will attract talented students from schools, colleges and universities into our profession – and internships are a key part of this. So, we’re calling upon all firms, large and small, to commit to offering at least one internship opportunity a year, utilising the principles set out in this guide.”
Daniel Pedley, public affairs manager at the CII, added:
“Internships provide benefits beyond the individual or the firm to society at large. They play a crucial role in promoting social mobility by offering a way into a profession that a young person may have thought closed to them.
“The CII recently committed to the Government’s Social Mobility Business Compact which seeks to raise aspirations, open opportunities and ensure every individual is free to achieve, whatever their background. Our internships guide supports these aims with those signing the CII pledge demonstrating the commitment of our profession to provide quality internship programmes.”
The guide ‘Internships: A good practice guide from the Chartered Insurance Institute’ can be found on the CII website at http://www.knowledge.cii.co.uk/system/files/CII_Internships_Best_Practice_Guide_VF.pdf
More information on the Social Mobility Business Compact, announced by the Deputy Prime Minister, can be found here:
http://www.dpm.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/businesscompact
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