Attracting young talent ‘only going to improve’ D&I

Diversity and inclusion (D&I) is “only going to improve” across the insurance industry if it can attract more young talent.

That was according to Megan Jenkins, a businesses graduate at Zurich, who told Insurance Times the industry ”will reflect broader diversity” if improvements to D&I across the sector encourage individuals to join and work their way up to senior roles.

This came after a survey by the Chartered Insurance Institute revealed that 60% of young talent found the insurance industry “boring” and only 30% would consider it as a career.

The findings were based on a survey of 50 participants between the ages of 14-22 in April 2023.

Following this, professional services and technology business Davies partnered with Ucas earlier this year (16 August 2023) to reach ”millions of young people looking for post-secondary school education opportunities and introduce them to the insurance and financial services world of work”.

“Any efforts we invest at present will undoubtedly enhance the industry for those who follow,” Jenkins said.

“It’s reassuring to envision that as we progress into managerial positions at later stages of our careers, the entire industry will reflect broader diversity.”

Social media

To further encourage more young people to enter the industry, Zurich created the TikTok accounts Life of a Grad and Apprentice Life.

Life of a Grad is managed by Jenkins and Felicity Irvine, while Apprentice Life is currently overseen by Safa Saeed, a claims handler and level three insurance practitioner apprentice, along with colleagues Libby Llufrio-Maguire and Bailey Brasted.

Saeed explained that the TikTok platforms allowed Zurich and herself to showcase women of colour within the insurance industry.

“Coming from a South Asian background, the traditional route of career was to attend university,” Saeed said.

”However, I chose to do an apprenticeship. I wanted Apprentice Life to showcase a young Pakistani woman is working in the insurance industry and that there are multiple ways into the sector.”