Insurance Apprentice Review

My role varies quite a lot on a day-to-day basis, sometimes I will be dealing with customer queries, creating insurance reports or doing more admin-based tasks. Having been in the role for a few months now I am just starting to gain my own portfolio of clients which means I can put all of the skills I have learned so far into practice. Now my day-to-day role involves a lot more communication between clients and insurers and making sure I keep my clients happy.

I would say the skill I have developed the most is my communication, both verbal and written. This is because of the varying types of people I talk to on a daily basis, each needing different approaches, some needing it to be more simple and straightforward and others needing it to be more professional. My confidence has also grown massively as I learn more and get more comfortable in the role.

I am really enjoying the programme so far. I would say that the first few months can be a little tedious with admin tasks; however that's the case when you start anything new. This definitely pays off once you start to get more responsibility and I have found the programme enjoyable as a whole.

It is fairly well structured by goal setting and meetings with your apprenticeship coach and the buddy you get from Aon; however I think there could be a slightly more structured plan relevant to your own role so you know what sort of direction you're heading in. Overall, I would say it is well structured with some room for improvement.

I have received a lot of support from my employer, particularly from my manager and buddy, for both the work aspect and also the transition into working full-time. I am able to take time for my apprenticeship tasks, especially when it gets close to taking exams and I need to revise. Aon has been a very supportive company to work for.

I have monthly catch-ups with my apprenticeship coach, who sets me tasks that help me to achieve the qualification. You can also ask your coach for advice outside of meeting time if you need to deal with a difficult situation or if you're not sure of the best way to approach something. We also have several revision workshops throughout the year where the apprentices all meet in an office for lessons towards the next exam. All of these have been really helpful so far.

I found that taking my first CII exam (the IF1) has really helped me in my role as it covered such a wide base of knowledge about the insurance industry. This gave me a better awareness of where I fit into the industry and my responsibilities with clients. The tasks we get set by our coach also help with this and focus around different areas each time.

Aon are quite good at organising social and team events to keep team spirit high, which can also help to network with new people. These can be things like quiz nights, drinks after work, bowling or dinners. There are some sports events but I haven't personally taken part. I also go to CII arranged events to grow my personal network, which Aon are very supportive of.

Yes

I think Aon is a great place to learn and be supported in the transition from school or college to full-time work. You are given responsibilities quickly and treated like an adult from the start, which I think is very important. You are not just someone who makes the tea or does the photo-copying when you join Aon!

If you are applying to Aon make sure you know lots about what Aon do, the different services they provide and try and find the things that make you want to work there the most. They are all about being diverse and inclusive so, most importantly, be yourself throughout the whole process so they can fit you into the best team for you if you meet the criteria. Good luck!