b-live.com

WORK EXPERIENCE TO WORK-READY

Social enterprise develops the workforce of the future

“The investment is clearly worth it,” says Caspar Bartington of the Chartered Insurance Institute’s decision to work with social enterprise The b-live Foundation to develop and motivate students through engaging projects and work placement opportunities. “Traditionally the insurance sector hasn’t reached out to schools to offer careers advice. As the world’s largest professional body for insurance and financial services it is imperative that we employ inspirational campaigns and engage with a range of organisations such as The Foundation to offer real value to our members and work placements to interested students. Not only are we able to show young people how varied and interesting insurance can be, we’re also helping to shape quality work-ready students who are the future lifeblood of our industry.”

The CII launched its Discover Risk campaign and worked with the Foundation as part of its school promotion. The Discover Risk campaign aims to inform and inspire students about the world of risk through the interactive campaign website and student-facing sessions. Part of a wider programme for schools run by The Foundation, the campaign was taken into secondary schools, through its schools partnership network, to directly engage young people. The result? Motivated students, who understand a key UK work sector and are equipped with the relevant skills and experience to take them straight into work.

“It was an amazing experience. I learnt so much about risk, and all the different types of jobs there are in insurance. Now I know I’m interested in that industry and what skills I need to get into it, I can make the right decisions when it comes to choosing my A Levels,” said Zarnab Javaid who spent two weeks on work experience with the Insurance Institute of London.

BENEFITS FOR STUDENTS

“Working with The Foundation enabled us to broaden the reach of the CII’s Discover Risk, campaign which truly engaged the students. The resulting work experience opportunities were hugely beneficial to those taking part and, of course, proved invaluable for us as employers,” says Allison Potts of the Insurance Institute of London. “It is vital to invest in young people at an early stage, to properly prepare them for the world of work, ensure entry of quality candidates into the sector, and open their eyes to career possibilities they perhaps weren’t previously aware of.”

Tanja Kuveljic from The Foundation said: “We developed engaging and lively presentation materials that reflected the CII’s Discover Risk campaign which placed risk and insurance in a context students understood. The impact of long-term partnerships with organisations such as the CII cannot be under estimated – we teach young people about different industries, and the skills and qualifications they need to get into them as well as helping to prepare them for work through placement opportunities. I’m delighted the work placements had such a positive effect on students and the CII’s member organisations.”

And it wasn’t only students on work experience who gained. The Foundation’s website www.b-live.com, which young people can sign up to for free, hosts interactive information about insurance and how to get involved with a job sector that employs 300,000 people in the U

The Foundation supports young people and provides employers with creative, cost-effective recruitment solutions by integrating educational resources with opportunities such as work experience.

Raised aspirations + Increased confidence + Engaged in learning = Positive social impact

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