Aon has big plans to launch an apprenticeship program in its Chicago location on January, modeled after the apprenticeship system in Europe, according to a news report on the Chicago Tribune.
Together with
Zurich North America, the insurer brought together executives from over 15 major firms Mar. 7 for a closed-door breakfast meeting discussing the feasibility of creating and maintaining an apprenticeship system for the insurance industry.
The effort coincides with the federal government’s aim to double the number of apprenticeships by the year 2019. It is hoped that this would not only help individuals easily find jobs in the insurance industry, but also resolve the issue of growing college debt.
In that regard, the participating firms are partnering up with community colleges to find potential talent.
"If the pipeline is only through four-year colleges, then you are missing out," said Aon vice president of global public affairs and Cook County Board member Bridget Gainer. "Let's change the pipeline to fit what's out there."
Aon CEO Greg Case shared his enthusiasm for the apprenticeship program, noting that his high expectations were "dramatically exceeded" when he found that the other executives agreed wholeheartedly to the plan during the meeting last Monday.
"What is clear is that we're better together," Case remarked. "When we compare notes on recruiting, how we do training and how we do networking, it just builds credibility."
Case additionally underlined that the apprenticeship system opens up opportunities to “source talent from different areas.”
Aon has partnered up with Harold Washington College to develop a two-year apprenticeship program in Chicago modeled after the global insurer’s existing apprenticeship program in the U.K. The program will recruit students in high school, combining classroom learning and a paid job. Those students who complete the program are usually granted a permanent position in the company after graduating.
Zurich North America pledged last year that it would hold a two-year apprenticeship program from its Schaumburg office, training 100 apprentices by 2020. Twenty-four apprentices have already started working and learning with the insurer January.
