Apprentices and Graduates in the spotlight

Covéa Insurance apprentices and graduates were in the spotlight when Prime Minister, David Cameron, visited the company’s office in Dean Clough, Halifax on Friday 2nd January.

Mr Cameron was met by Covéa Insurance Chief Executive, James Reader, who spoke about the company’s growth which had resulted in the company’s local workforce increasing by 20% in the 2014, with an expectation of this rising by a further 15% in 2015.

Covéa Insurance Chief Executive, James Reader commented on the visit saying:

“The Prime Minister’s visit presented a unique opportunity for us to showcase the diverse range of employment opportunities that exist within the insurance industry and our business.”

Covéa Insurance’s Head of Learning and HR, Lisa Meigh, conducted a tour of the company’s office for Mr Cameron, during which he sat down with graduates and apprentices to discuss their experience, she added:

“Mr Cameron was interested in what we’ve been doing as a growing business to provide apprenticeship and graduate training opportunities that will lead to a rewarding career with us.”

Apprenticeship opportunities

Working with the local Calderdale College, Covéa Insurance has established a successful apprenticeship programme, with one of its employees winning the 2014 award for ‘Apprentice of the Year.’ Along with 10 other insurers, the Chartered Insurance Institute and former apprentice, Bobby Charlton, the company is also participating in a Government backed project called ‘Trailblazers’. The project aims to develop an insurance specific apprenticeship programme which is due to be launched in 2015.

Graduate opportunities

As well as having a graduate entry programme, to fast track careers into insurance management, Covéa Insurance is currently working with a nationwide business school to develop a degree programme, whereby employees with A levels will be able to ‘earn and learn’ at the same time, and obtain a degree without incurring a student loan.

Covéa Insurance currently employees 942 people, with 518 of its employees based at its offices in Halifax. It also has another major office in Reading and 9 regional offices throughout the UK. It was awarded ‘Gold’ Investors in People Accreditation in 2014 and will feature in the 2015 Sunday Times Top 100 mid-sized Best Companies to Work for list.

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About Covéa Insurance

Covéa Insurance Plc is the UK underwriting business of leading French mutual insurance group Covéa (which includes the global reinsurer PartnerRe since July 2022). 

Covéa Insurance looks after the insurance needs of UK customers, across a range of product lines; delivering financial reassurance through its Standard & Poor’s ‘AA- stable’ rating, as a guaranteed subsidiary of Covéa.  

Covéa Insurance has a strong people and service ethos and holds ServiceMark accreditation with Distinction for its Personal Lines operation and its Commercial & HNW Claims teams, as well as Chartered Insurer status for its Commercial business. Covéa Insurance is signatory to the HM Treasury Women in Finance Charter and the insurance Inclusivity Pledge and has been named one of the top 75 employers in West Yorkshire & the Humber. In 2022 Covéa Insurance was named Insurer of the Year at the British Claims Awards and Personal Lines Insurer of the Year at the Insurance Times Awards.