This year, as the world grappled with COVID-19, many young people experienced significant disruption to their lives and education, while studies have also shown that the pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on those from lower-income households and black and ethnic minorities.
One organisation that is helping young people from disadvantaged backgrounds navigate the ‘new normal’ is The Brokerage, a London-based social mobility charity that helps young people fulfill their potential through professional career opportunities.
Hiscox has worked with the Brokerage for several years and is now proud to have entered a 12-month partnership with the charity, which is supported by a £50,000 donation from the Hiscox Foundation UK. Like us, The Brokerage believes in equal access to opportunity irrespective of background or race, and in talented people getting the job they deserve in a world where ability and aspiration alone determine their career path.
During the summer, the charity launched its Generation 2020 Academy, a support programme running throughout the summer giving young people impacted by the pandemic access to mentoring, masterclasses, webinars and one-to-one support.
Six Hiscox graduates took part in the programme as mentors providing support, insight and encouragement to help young people from the Brokerage develop their business skills and knowledge.
Michaela, one of the Brokerage candidates that took part, commented that “I enjoyed hearing about my mentor’s experience as a student and the strategies she used to stay on top of her work. She gave me a good introduction to working in the insurance industry, which I found really interesting, and I now have some good improvements I can make to my CV and cover letter.”
Our mentors found it a rewarding and worthwhile experience as well as a great opportunity to develop their coaching skills. Áine, a Hiscox graduate mentor, commented that “it was great watching my mentee’s confidence and professional knowledge grow over the eight weeks we worked together. Mentoring also helped build my leadership skills, and I got to help someone carve out their future career and academic prospects.”
This partnership is one of the ways we are broadening our search for talent to reach a more diverse pool of candidates. In addition to promoting our UK graduate opportunities through The Brokerage, we will also be recruiting two of our five summer 2021 UK Interns through the partnership, providing direct access to work based opportunities.
We’re also working with the charity to host events designed to inspire young people to consider a career in insurance. Our first event, held in December, was a lively and engaging virtual masterclass giving undergraduate students an insight into an actuarial career in the industry. In March 2021, we’ll be running three virtual insight sessions for A-level students (16-18 years) to provide an introduction to insurance and the different careers that the industry offers.
If you’re interested in attending future events or would like to know more about The Brokerage, you can read more about their story and their impact here.
