TEn grooms staff for board

Independent broker network TEn has launched a radical career development programme that aims to groom its own staff to become the company’s future directors.

Staff joining the TEn Insurance Services “future development group” receive training towards professional qualifications and mentoring from existing company executives, whose shoes they are expected to eventually fill.

The crusading network, which was launched in 2005 to resist the assimilation of smaller brokers and reverse their “worsening competitive position”, set up the group in a bid to protect “the uniqueness” of its organisation.

Managing director Malcolm Lee said: “Bringing in external talent to take over when current board members retire exposes the organisation to the risk of losing its identity, which we have fought hard to retain since we launched back in 2005.

“Growing our own talent means that future leaders will have an in-depth understanding of our ethos and culture. And having leaders that have grown in the business gives continuity to the rest of the organisation, whereas new management can sometimes lead to uncertainty and affect performance.”

Six staff chosen to form the initial group have all achieved the Chartered Insurance Institute certificate and are studying towards the CII diploma. Future members will be required to do the same.

Members’ strengths and specialist interests, such as marketing, have been identified and they have each been assigned to a board member overseeing the relevant specialism, who will act as their mentor.

The group will hold monthly “shadow board meetings” where they will come up with ideas that will be presented to the TEn board. They will also conduct real-life projects, such as a marketing campaign or restructuring exercise, which are designed to provide on-the-job experience of their future leadership role.

An external careers coach has been appointed to develop members’ business skills and they will receive external training in topics such as corporate governance. They will also take further external qualifications relevant to their career path.

Group member Holly Varney, a broker technician who is being mentored by operations director John Rusby, said: “I’ve never heard of any business in the industry doing anything like this.

“It’s an amazing opportunity to develop my career in insurance but also help ensure that TEn retains its character and values in the future. This has really motivated everyone in the group and we’re all looking forward to getting stuck in.”