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8.5) By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value
Dual Vocational Training for the Insurance Industry
In Spain, unemployment, with a particularly high rate of 35% of youth unemployment, is a key concern for Zurich and reflected in where they focus their activities related to Corporate Responsibility. The three initiatives sponsored by the Z Zurich Foundation currently running in Spain are Junior Achievement, Dual Vocational Training for the Insurance Industry, and Get Ready for Life. They all aim to address YOUTH EMPOWERMENT and therefore positively influence the issue of youth unemployment.
The Dual Vocational Training for the Insurance Industry program was developed by Zurich and approved by the local Government, and is running in three high schools. In its third year, they currently have 85 students participating.
The content and the train-the-trainer courses have been delivered by Zurich employees. Some of the initiatives Zurich offers, such as “speed dating” events bringing together students and insurance brokers or companies to match interests and start discussions on apprenticeship positions are very well received by both the academic partners and public administration. Their partner in this project has been the DVT Alliance established by the Bertelsmann Foundation in Spain.
Over the past two years, 33 Zurich employees have been involved in skills-based volunteering, sharing their insurance expertise. In total, 350 hours of teaching materials have been developed, and 50 school teachers have been trained. Over the course of the academic year of 2018/19, four volunteers acted as tutors for five apprentices at Zurich. This new academic year they have one student doing her apprenticeship with them. Last June, the first 21 students graduated from this Dual Vocational Training program. 85% of them were offered the opportunity to continue working with the insurers and brokers they did their apprenticeships with. This highlights the high rate of job placements achieved with the program. Five students were trained in Zurich offices, with three of them currently working for the company.
Last June, the first 21 students graduated from this Dual Vocational Training program. 85% of them were offered the opportunity to continue working with the insurers and brokers they did their apprenticeships with. This highlights the high rate of job placements achieved with the program. Five students were trained in Zurich offices, with three of them currently working for the company.
Young Professionals Assignment ("YPA")
The Young Professionals Assignment ("YPA") program is an exchange program Zurich offers its graduates. Eligibility is based on performance and the decision to opt for a permanent position at Zurich. The YPA program allows graduates to complete a Zurich-financed language course in the form of a BEC Higher Diploma and to work for Zurich in Ireland (Dublin) for two months. In cooperation with Zurich Ireland, it was successfully run for the second time this year, and will be offered again to five Zurich Switzerland apprentices next year.
During the exchange program, Zurich not only supports its graduates by helping them to learn the language and broaden their professional knowledge, but also by sponsoring the flights, and reimbursing host families for accommodation and meals Graduates also receive a daily allowance for other expenses such as lunch, bus tickets and evening activities
Zurich Ireland Apprenticeship
In 2015, Zurich Ireland, along with their educational partner, the Insurance Institute of Ireland, submitted an application to the Apprenticeship Council of Ireland to create a national and industry-wide professional apprenticeship program. Little did they know that it would go on to be the first new apprenticeship program in the country in more than 50 years, and the first ever level 8 apprenticeship in Ireland.
Zurich Ireland are the largest employer of apprentices in insurance in Ireland. Since 2016, when they first introduced the program, they have hired 25 apprentices into their Wexford Office, the first of whom will graduate this November with a BA Honors in Insurance Practice. The graduating class of 2019 has surpassed all expectations with more than 50% achieving a First Class Honors. The program is generating a new and exciting generation of talent for the industry.
8.6) By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training
Dual Vocational Training for the Insurance Industry
In Spain, unemployment, with a particularly high rate of 35% of youth unemployment, is a key concern for Zurich and reflected in where they focus their activities related to Corporate Responsibility. The three initiatives sponsored by the Z Zurich Foundation currently running in Spain are Junior Achievement, Dual Vocational Training for the Insurance Industry, and Get Ready for Life. They all aim to address YOUTH EMPOWERMENT and therefore positively influence the issue of youth unemployment.
The Dual Vocational Training for the Insurance Industry program was developed by Zurich and approved by the local Government, and is running in three high schools. In its third year, they currently have 85 students participating.
The content and the train-the-trainer courses have been delivered by Zurich employees. Some of the initiatives Zurich offers, such as “speed dating” events bringing together students and insurance brokers or companies to match interests and start discussions on apprenticeship positions are very well received by both the academic partners and public administration. Their partner in this project has been the DVT Alliance established by the Bertelsmann Foundation in Spain.
Over the past two years, 33 Zurich employees have been involved in skills-based volunteering, sharing their insurance expertise. In total, 350 hours of teaching materials have been developed, and 50 school teachers have been trained. Over the course of the academic year of 2018/19, four volunteers acted as tutors for five apprentices at Zurich. This new academic year they have one student doing her apprenticeship with them. Last June, the first 21 students graduated from this Dual Vocational Training program. 85% of them were offered the opportunity to continue working with the insurers and brokers they did their apprenticeships with. This highlights the high rate of job placements achieved with the program. Five students were trained in Zurich offices, with three of them currently working for the company.
Last June, the first 21 students graduated from this Dual Vocational Training program. 85% of them were offered the opportunity to continue working with the insurers and brokers they did their apprenticeships with. This highlights the high rate of job placements achieved with the program. Five students were trained in Zurich offices, with three of them currently working for the company.
Young Professionals Assignment ("YPA")
The Young Professionals Assignment ("YPA") program is an exchange program Zurich offers its graduates. Eligibility is based on performance and the decision to opt for a permanent position at Zurich. The YPA program allows graduates to complete a Zurich-financed language course in the form of a BEC Higher Diploma and to work for Zurich in Ireland (Dublin) for two months. In cooperation with Zurich Ireland, it was successfully run for the second time this year, and will be offered again to five Zurich Switzerland apprentices next year.
During the exchange program, Zurich not only supports its graduates by helping them to learn the language and broaden their professional knowledge, but also by sponsoring the flights, and reimbursing host families for accommodation and meals Graduates also receive a daily allowance for other expenses such as lunch, bus tickets and evening activities
Zurich Ireland Apprenticeship
In 2015, Zurich Ireland, along with their educational partner, the Insurance Institute of Ireland, submitted an application to the Apprenticeship Council of Ireland to create a national and industry-wide professional apprenticeship program. Little did they know that it would go on to be the first new apprenticeship program in the country in more than 50 years, and the first ever level 8 apprenticeship in Ireland.
Zurich Ireland are the largest employer of apprentices in insurance in Ireland. Since 2016, when they first introduced the program, they have hired 25 apprentices into their Wexford Office, the first of whom will graduate this November with a BA Honors in Insurance Practice. The graduating class of 2019 has surpassed all expectations with more than 50% achieving a First Class Honors. The program is generating a new and exciting generation of talent for the industry.