An industry united
18-10-2006
The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) has launched a new pan-industry recruitment initiative to combat the insurance industry's current poor performance in graduate recruitment.
Despite being the UK's second largest export, directly employing over 330,000 people and representing 20% of the total net worth of the UK economy, Insurance has signally failed to engage the imagination of UK graduates, 90% of whom say they would not even consider a career in insurance.
The CII in conjunction with industry leaders aims to change that and has launched a high-profile multimedia campaign, drawing together top recruiters from throughout the industry - companies that normally compete directly with each other both in the battle for new customers and what is becoming an ever-more intense war for talent.
Created by City&Law, the CII's new campaign tackles head on the negative associations and inaccurate perceptions held by the nation's graduate population - emphasising instead the industry's scale and influence, diversity and fundamental significance to modern life.
Alongside a bold visual approach, the campaign also features a prize draw for students with prizes including a signed Manchester United shirt, courtesy of the club's new sponsor insurance giant AIG, a trip to the British F1 Grand Prix through Williams' sponsor Allianz Cornhill, and a weekend in London featuring a guided tour of Tate Modern.
Unveiled at a launch presentation in Glasgow, attended by over 250 students, university careers advisers and industry insiders, the campaign centres on an online hub www.careersininsurance.cii.co.uk featuring information, descriptions of the roles available, profiles of graduate employees and links to recruiters and their graduate schemes.
Speaking after his launch address Chris Hanks, General Manager of Allianz Cornhill and chairman of the CII-Industry Talent Initiative said: 'For years one of the UK's most significant industries has been underselling itself. We've failed to engage with graduates and we've failed comprehensively to engage with gatekeepers - only 50% of insurance recruiters even talk to university careers services. That has to change or our industry - and our economy - will be facing a real problem. Today marks the beginning of a new approach and I'm delighted to see so many of the industry's major recruiters coming together to support this important initiative.'
Steve Wellard, Communications Director at the CII said: 'The industry is punching far below its weight at the moment. This campaign is the first step in putting us where we ought to be in recruiting terms - one of the premier career options for students in the UK. It's about raising awareness and providing gatekeepers such as careers services with an industry-wide source of information.'
http://www.insurancecareers.cii.co.uk