Covéa Insurance supports the launch of Communication Skills Academy in Halifax

Covéa Insurance will be cutting the ribbon at the opening of the new Calderdale College Communication Skills Academy in Halifax on 11th March. Vicki Heslop, Senior Claims Manager and Matthew Metcalfe, Claims Team Manager at Covéa Insurance are supporting the opening of the new venture, set up by Calderdale College to provide its students with an opportunity to gain valuable skills and work experience to prepare them for the workplace.

The Communications Skills Academy will give new apprentices practical experience and train them in the skills required to prepare them for working in a call centre environment, which will increase their employability and help them find employment or apprenticeship positions within organisations like Covéa Insurance, who are a major employer in the region.

Covéa Insurance will continue to support the Communications Skills Academy long after the official launch by providing on-going support and business advice to the team on running the centre as well as providing additional work experience opportunities to apprentices. The insurer’s Halifax based workforce is rapidly expanding and it is recruiting for vacancies in a number of different roles including entry level apprenticeships.

Adrian Furness, Claims Director at Covéa Insurance commented on the importance of supporting the project:

“We work closely with Calderdale College as we believe it’s so important for young people to gain the skills at college that they need to succeed in the workplace. With this venture, Calderdale College is creating a simulated working environment, which will be invaluable in giving local young people the practical skills and experience to prepare them for working in an office environment and help them into professional rewarding careers in organisations such as ours”

Andrew Rodney, Business Development Manager at Calderdale College adds:

“We are looking forward to launching the Communication Skills Academy during National Apprenticeship Week. The Academy is currently serviced by 8 Apprentices who are gaining valuable experience working in a call centre environment whilst studying towards a customer service Apprenticeship qualification. The skills gained working in the Academy, coupled with the qualification will give the apprentices a distinct advantage when applying for positions with employers, such as Covéa Insurance.”

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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.