The Chartered Insurance Institute has today urged employers to help shape and influence the future of apprenticeships and engage with the government’s new employer-led apprenticeship model.

This call follows the Prime Minister’s announcement of insurance as one of twelve employer phase two ‘Apprenticeship Trailblazers’, or early adopter of the apprenticeship reforms. The current apprenticeship system is being reshaped to put employers at the heart of creating new pathways. The importance of the insurance apprenticeships initiative was underlined by an event held at the CII yesterday which was the first in National Apprenticeships week attended by the Skills Minister Matt Hancock MP.

The CII, as part of National Apprenticeships Week, is encouraging employers to use apprenticeships as a source of future talent and is publishing today a ‘Trailblazers’ guide for employers. The guide provides information on how apprenticeships are evolving, what a Trailblazer is and how to get involved. Daniel Pedley, Public Affairs Manager, at the Chartered Insurance Institute said:“The government is reforming the apprenticeships system in England and this is a unique opportunity for employers to influence the content of future apprenticeships and shape the future talent of the industry. The new standards will be shorter, designed by employers and supported by professional bodies like the CII.

“Trailblazers give employers the opportunity to take on future apprentices whose programme they’ve had a hand in designing. The CII has launched this guide to help employers understand the Trailblazer programme and to help them get involved in developing the new apprenticeship standards”.

As part of the UK Insurance Growth Action Plan, the industry made a commitment to double the number of technical apprenticeships (those containing professional qualifications) over the next five years. Until recently apprenticeships have been relatively untapped by the sector, however the CII’s annual skill survey found increasing awareness among employers of apprenticeships (67 percent in 2013 – up from 46 percent in 2009).

Continuing, Pedley, said: “Apprenticeships are now in sharp focus and represent an important employment pathway. Now is the time for the industry to analyse their talent needs, identify the gaps and address these needs by becoming a Trailblazer”. The CII’s Trailblazer’s guide provides information on what the new standards cover, what a trailblazer is and how apprenticeships are evolving.