Junior Power

Objective

To equip secondary and high-school graduates with work experience and skills to start successful careers in the insurance sector.

Overview and Main Activities

This apprenticeship programme is based on the Swiss dual education system and offers a combination of on-the-job training and classroom teaching in vocational schools. Apprentices are trained in a broad range of (re)insurance roles, such as underwriting and claims, and in business operations roles such as HR, IT and Logistics.

Key programme elements:

• Mandatory formal education at vocational schools to develop technical skills.
• Internal workshops to acquire soft and business skills. Workshops cover business etiquette, presentation technique, work and study techniques, IT courses and introduction to insurance.
• Language courses to strengthen English-language skills.
• Annual project days where apprentices can improve their knowledge of business subjects or follow a business-related interest.
• Daily professional guidance, management and monitoring by qualified vocational instructors.

Apprenticeship tracks include:

• Businesswoman/man: During the three-year course, trainees undertake assignments in Human Resources, IT and insurance while attending vocational school two days a week. They learn the basics of the primary and reinsurance business and deal with internal customers, suppliers and external customers.
• Application and System Engineer: In the first year of this four-year engagement, apprentices receive basic external training. In their third and fourth year, they specialize in a professional area and work actively within a team.
• Mediamatics Specialist: In the first year of this four-year assignment, trainees are trained externally. Thereafter, they rotate among different fields of specialization, such as seminar and conference management, print and layout and management and the creation of electronic teaching materials.
• Chef: In this three-year engagement, apprentices learn everything about preparing all areas of the kitchen, including the preparation and combination of products. In year three, trainees use the latest nutritional and preparation standards and learn about economics.
• Hotel Housekeeper: During this three-year apprenticeship, trainees rotate among the housekeeping, office, logistics, laundry, buffet, and service and reception departments.

Success Factors and Challenges

Most critical success factors:

• Commitment and sponsors from upper management and global business units
• Support from Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) department
• Strategic alignment of the initiative with organization priorities

Main challenges:

• Transitioning young people at various stages of their education, from school into work, and encouraging entrepreneurship
• Providing a combination of practical development activities and formal learning
• Encouraging inclusion and participation from a diverse population
• Facilitating longer term employability
• Ensuring market competitive remuneration and benefits

Recommendations for Others

Ensure senior-level ownership and sponsorship to secure financial and operational support, and to share responsibility for performance, placement and progression. Be sure to balance distribution of talent between core business and operations. To do this, it is necessary to understand required skills and competencies and to target appropriate schools while maintaining diversity. Finally, think long term: 1) introduce an integrated and future-orientated programme to meet workforce demands and to generate sustainable benefit, and 2) address challenges on youth employment and social responsibility.

Replicability and Scalability

How easily could other organizations implement this initiative?
Easy: For organizations in Switzerland or Germany, the education system and the support of the business and industry are already established. Other countries without the same systems and awareness would face challenges.

How easily can this initiative be expanded to include a larger number of participants?
Difficult: To maintain the quality and effectiveness of the programme, the number of participants has to be well balanced with the workforce needs of the respective organizations

About the Organization

Website: www.swissre.com
Sector: Insurance and Asset Management
Size (number of employees): 10,000-50,000
Headquarters: Zurich, Switzerland