ABL Academy celebrates highest intake year to date
Our in-house insurance training and certification programme, The ABL Academy has recently completed its latest run, with the highest-ever number of ABL teammates undertaking insurance certifications at all levels.
The ABL Academy was created in partnership with the leading insurance training provider, Insurance Training Partnership in 2018 and brings insurance professionals from ABL Group and subsidiary brands Digney Grant and McGrady Insurance through the Chartered Institute of Insurance accreditation program.
“Our greatest asset is our people,” explains Siobhan McAuley, Executive Director at ABL Group, “and investing in their development not only benefits our clients but also boosts each individual’s professional development and self-confidence. We’re delighted to see so many teammates start their accreditation journey and truly develop their careers with the ABL Academy.”
This year saw academy numbers boosted by a new influx of ABL Group teammates thanks to our continued expansion and the acquisition of Willis Towers Watson’s NI business in 2021. In previous years, the Academy has offered the first level of accreditation (CII Certificate) and the intermediate level (CII Diploma). However, with so many colleagues having achieved this certification in previous years, we introduced the Advanced Diploma course this year which has been taken up by ten colleagues.
Designed and delivered in collaboration with leading insurance training specialists ITP, the ABL Academy programme offers a mix of classroom and self-directed home study with teammates afforded time from their working day for study and to complete coursework where necessary.
The accreditation programme was one of the first of its kind in the local insurance sector and is rare in offering the higher level, Advanced Diploma qualification. The programme may be rarer still by offering full financial support to those who wish to progress to the top tier of CII qualification, ‘Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Insurance’ through further study and personal development.
Phil Peers of ITP explains
“With talent acquisition being such a focus in the local insurance market, ABL Group is leading the way with its investment in training and development. We’re proud to partner with them in the creation of the ABL Academy and, having been involved since its first year, it’s great seeing some of those early students returning to the academy for the next level of accreditation with years of professional experience built on the confidence that CII qualifications can give.”
The graduating students from this year’s cohort will now continue to develop their knowledge of the insurance sector with a programme of continuous professional development which includes further study, workshops and development sessions with the Institute.