A Llantrisant-based insurance broker is hoping to boost business success by enrolling a further 10 employees onto an industry specific apprenticeship scheme.
Giles Insurance Brokers joined forces with Acorn’s specialist learning and development division in 2010 so that their employees could take part in Apprenticeships and Foundation Apprenticeships in Providing Financial Services (General Insurance).
Since this time 27 individuals have achieved their apprenticeships and this new cohort of 10 is expected to be just as successful.
Paul Norman, Regional Manager at Giles Insurance Brokers Ltd, said: “We are extremely confident in our staff and this apprenticeship scheme is a great way of underlining their industry expertise and demonstrating our faith in their ability. The first time we carried out the scheme with Acorn the results were extremely positive which is why we’re so keen to continue the relationship.
“The service and advice that we provide to our customers in Wales is at the forefront of everything that we do. We believe that investing in our staff is an investment in our business and the 97 percent completion rate achieved by our employees demonstrates that they return our confidence. I have no doubt that the newest batch of apprentices will find the scheme as useful as their colleagues before them.”
Giles employs over 100 people in Wales across offices in Newport, Cardiff, Talbot Green and Llantrisant and looks after over 15,000 commercial business clients. 100% of employees are members of the Chartered Insurance Institute and over 50% are now qualified.
Ann Nicholas, Head of Corporate Development, Acorn Learning & Development, said: “This is the second enrolment we have carried out in conjunction with Giles which is the strongest possible endorsement of the benefits of the scheme.
“We work with a number of different types of businesses, tailoring our apprenticeships to their needs. These qualifications contained within an apprenticeship are structured to increase and reinforce employees’ knowledge and understanding and this has certainly proven to be the case with Giles.”
“Research shows that employers who have opted for apprenticeships generally see an improvement in the productivity of their staff as well as in the quality of their work. Two thirds of employers have reported that the benefits of apprenticeships to their organisation included the introduction of new ideas, improved product or services, greater staff morale and better staff retention[1].”
“From our experience, with Giles Insurance and with our different clients, we can truly say that apprenticeships are a win-win solution when it comes to the development of new or existing members of staff.”
The benefits an apprentice can bring to organisations are being celebrated during National Apprenticeship Week. Now in its seventh year it is the time when all eyes are on apprenticeships and activity focuses on raising the profile amongst employers, individuals, teachers, parents and the media.
Established in 1992, Acorn has its headquarters in Newport and has 38 branches across the UK.