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Apprenticeship scheme welcomes first recruits

Apprenticeship scheme welcomes first recruits

Posted on Sep 04, 2017

We're delighted to announce the launch today (Monday 4th September) of our first apprenticeship scheme. We've recruited three school-leavers from Salford Academy to join our new two-year training programme. The salaried scheme will see them work towards the Level 2 or Level 3 Apprenticeships Standard, supported by our in-house training team and specialist provider, Intraining Group. Experience and training Following a three-week induction they will receive experience and training within every part of the business. As well as specific departments such as Administration, Sales and Marketing based at our Manchester headquarters, this will see them joining our specialist motor broking team in Lancaster, and Dublin offices. Jackie Bircham (Group Operations Manager, Principal Insurance)“This is a structured programme which is designed to give our apprentices a broad understanding of how our business and the wider insurance industry works,” commented Principal’s group operations manager, Jackie Bircham (pictured). “This means that whilst in their first year our apprentices will be introduced to all aspects of the business, in their second they will be able to focus on a specific function and receive more specific and in-depth training in that field.” We have also taken steps to ease the transition from school to a work environment. As well as the new recruits receiving bespoke training and appraisals, we will host “parents evenings” to provide feedback on how they’re doing. “When you’re 16 it can seem a big deal entering the wider world of work, sometimes quite daunting,” says Ms Bircham. “We want our apprenticeships to feel comfortable from day one and for their parents to be both reassured and understand how well they’re doing as their training progresses.” Apprenticeship scheme shows growing maturity The launch of the new programme is an indicator of the growing maturity of the business which was founded in 2011 and now employs well over 100 staff across its three sites. It also follows a period of rapid growth. Since relocating to our current headquarters last September, we have doubled our office space to accommodate 50 new starters who have joined at all level of the business. In February we revealed surging profits and turnover for the group’s last financial year (ended October 31st 2016). Gross written premium – the value of the policies we arrange – more than doubled to breach £10m. In order to effectively manage that growth, this year we have reinvested heavily not just in additional staff, but systems and technology.