We have received the following employment opportunity for recent Old Bordenians from a local Insurance Broker.
I am Chairman of a small insurance broker which has recently moved its office into Sittingbourne.
Currently, we are based in St. George's Business Park, Castle Road until my wife, Sarah, and I have installed our business inside Woodgate Farm Oast. We bought the part converted oast last June and are completing its development over the next few years. The office should be up and running early this Summer, though.
Having helped put my 2 sons through university with my daughter graduating this Summer, I am painfully aware from a financial viewpoint, of the enormous cost of completing a degree with the high tuition fees, coupled with accommodation costs and living expenses. After graduating, the opportunities for a graduate finding gainful employment are far fewer than used to be case with the continuing recession.
One alternative to entering into a career in insurance with a degree is now available.
The Chartered Insurance Institute has an accredited apprenticeship scheme which my company has subscribed to.
In conjunction with the Kent Employment Programme, I am offering an apprenticeship at our company for a minimum of 12 months. The apprentice will be employed in the office, 5 days a week with the equivalent of one of those days being given over to education towards qualifying for the Certificate Chartered Insurance Institute's award. The training provider will be Bromley College but the study will be carried out in the office.
Nevertheless, I am looking for the apprentice to stay with the company after completion of the apprenticeship, not leave. The individual would be employed on a full time basis subject to, at least, the Government's minimum annual salary level and I would expect the education of the individual to continue onto Certificate CII status, Diploma CII status and then to the Advanced Diploma CII when the individual will become "Chartered", ie an Associate of The Chartered Insurance Institute. My company will provide the necessary funding for this continuing education.
The applicant must apply through a local Job Centre, say, Sittingbourne, Maidstone or Medway. The vacancy will not be posted online by Kent County Council anywhere. It will stay in paper format in the Job Centres in order that the Kent Employment Programme advisors can ensure that only people in the age bracket of 18-24 apply. This one to one contact also enables the advisors to support the young people through their application.
Our vacancy will close on Wednesday 10th May.
The applicant must be living in Kent, aged 18 to 24, have 5 GCSEs within the grades A – C and will have been "signed on" at the Job Centre for a minimum of 3 months.
Our advertisement at each Job Centre reads:
Copperwheat Barlow is the leading independent farm and estates insurance broker in Kent. It also specialises in marine insurance and handles various types of commercial general insurance. An opportunity has now arisen in the company for the role of an apprentice. The apprenticeship will last for a minimum of 12 months. The position entails dealing with clients and underwriters on all aspects of the company's insurance portfolio including presentations and back-up to the directors and account executive at the firm. Good basic mathematics, computer and English skills are essential.
The successful applicant will be required to complete the Chartered Insurance Institute level 2 Award in Insurance, Legal & Regulatory matters. The company will provide the apprentice with all the necessary support to achieve this. Further, on completion of the apprenticeship, if retained, the apprentice will be employed on a permanent basis. The company will expect that the individual continues with the Chartered Insurance Institute's qualifications through to passing the Advanced Diploma in Insurance [with the designation of "Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute", that is full individual chartered status.
I thought that this position would be of interest to an ex-pupil of Borden Grammar School who has yet to decide on a career path.
I would be grateful if you could circulate the position to your ex-pupils accordingly.
Kindest regards
Neil
N R J Barlow A.C.I.I.
Chartered Insurance Broker
Director
Copperwheat Barlow
Woodgate Farm
Oad Street
Borden
Sittingbourne
Kent ME9 8JX
Tel: 01795 432727
Fax: 01795 432728
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