Chelsea Keenan discusses her successful apprenticeship at Covéa Insurance

To mark National Apprentice Week, Covéa Insurance spoke to its award winning apprentice, Chelsea Keenan and asked her to share her experience.

Twenty-one year old Chelsea began her apprenticeship at the company’s Halifax office in November 2012, working in the claims department, while studying for an NVQ in Customer Service. In 2013, after qualifying, Chelsea was given a permanent position and is now in a role with supervisory responsibility in the home claims team.

What first made you choose to join an apprenticeship scheme?
I chose an apprenticeship because I had completed my first year at 6th form but I wanted the chance to be able to learn within a workplace environment. Not only can you earn a wage, you also gain an NVQ at the end of the apprenticeship

What did you need to do to join the programme?
The grades I needed to apply for the position were 5 GCSE’s at A*-C including maths and English. After I applied, I was asked to come in for an interview. I had an hour-long interview where I was asked general questions about previous work experience, the skills I possessed and why I wanted to do an apprenticeship. I then had to complete a mathematical test.

What do you get at the end of it?
Once you complete the one-year apprentice programme you achieve a nationally recognised NVQ in customer service - level 2. After that, the options are endless. I was offered a permanent job within Covéa Insurance and that was amazing! I am now a full time member of staff I don’t see myself working anywhere else, ever!

How do apprentices balance work and learning?
Time is really well managed between Covéa Insurance and college. Throughout the apprentice programme we went to college twice as a group where we had to sit exams. Other than that the college came to us for 3 hours every two weeks where we had the chance to sit with our tutor ask any questions we may have about the work and the programme and obtain any help we may need.

Why did you choose an apprenticeship with Covéa insurance?
I chose an apprenticeship at Covéa Insurance as it is a growing insurance company and I could see myself progressing within the business. I also chose Covéa Insurance because the staff that interviewed me were really welcoming, making me feel really comfortable and at ease.

What does your day-to-day job involve now?
My day-to-day role involves taking calls and helping the customer in the best way I can. I take reports of new household claims and set them up on our computer system, we will also issue payments to customers upon settlement of their insurance claim. I also have other responsibilities, which include completing team audits, training team members on system updates and changes to certain home claims processes.

Finally, what has been the highlight of your apprentice experience?
My highlight definitely has to be when I won Calderdale College’s “apprentice of the year”. In June 2014 my managers nominated me for the award. This was a real surprise to me and I was hugely proud to be announced the winner at the ceremony held at the Victoria Theatre in Halifax.

The Covéa Insurance 2015 apprenticeship scheme is due to launch in May and the company is recruiting for a wide range of roles within the business.

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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.