Loss adjusters aim to boost global profile

The Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters (CILA) is attempting to avoid a skills shortage by revising its exam structure and boosting its international profile, new president Graham Burgess said.

Speaking at CILA’s annual conference in Coventry, Burgess said the new exam structure would offer more options to potential candidates and attract more recruits.

He added there would be a different suite of examinations for specialists, including accountants, chartered surveyors and engineers, as well as less experienced entrants, such as trainee technicians.

“Part of the change that we are bringing about will help us facilitate the development of our examinations onto a much better platform, which will give several routes to qualification instead of what was traditionally a single route to becoming a loss adjuster,” he said.

According to industry insiders, the average age within the profession is now 50, leading to fears of a looming skills gap. This year, only 12 people have so far qualified as chartered loss adjusters.

Burgess said that promotion of the profession abroad could lead to a growth in potential new recruits, however. Outgoing president Angus Tucker had already done some promotional work in China.

“The developing economies . . . are starting to realise that reinsurers value the role of the chartered loss adjuster. I believe it will be a growing profession, but it may grow outside the UK faster than within the UK.”