website receives over 50,000 unique visits since launch

The CII has secured a host of high profile industry names to support its Talent Initiative. In just over two months the CII has secured sponsorship from Allianz, AXA and Norwich Union, Towergate, Talent & Pro, Willis and Munich Re.

Chris Hanks, Allianz Commercial general manager and chairman of the CII talent taskforce, said: "Insurance continues to provide some of the most diverse, interesting, challenging and rewarding careers and this event is about sharing this opportunity and our enthusiasm with graduates and hopefully our future colleagues."

Elliot Lane, CII Director of Talent Initiative says: "The industry response to the Talent Initiative has been impressive. Support has been offered from some of the leading names in the industry which would usually be competing against each other. This makes the achievement even more remarkable as the realisation of the importance of this initiative has hit home."

Some of the sponsorship will be allocated to funding the Talent Initiative's first event "Know Risk: The Big Event" taking place at The University of Manchester on 31 October. It will be the first insurance only careers event, with keynote presentations from top names such as: BBC One's Declan Curry, who will be opening the proceedings, and Karren Brady, MD of Birmingham City FC, giving the keynote speech. As well as high profile speakers the day includes three streams of breakout sessions including presentations on hot topics such as Climate Change, Terrorism/Political Risk, and career insights from noteworthy industry figures.

Ongoing plans for the initiative include extending the initiative to promote the insurance industry to school students and the introduction of the Talent Initiatives business strategy game with a £25,000 prize. Also the development of an online application database which will allow students to register just once and have access to seven major insurance companies.

Launched in October 2006, the Talent Initiative has already made an impact with university graduates. The dedicated website (www.insurancecareers.cii.co.uk) has seen over 50,000 unique visits, over 1,600 students register and approximately 20,000 click-throughs to supporting companies. Since the launch the Talent Taskforce has made four presentations at leading UK universities, and has attended eight careers fairs.

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