News Release
18 April 2012
IT'S RISKY BUSINESS FOR ARCHBISHOP SENTAMU ACADEMY STUDENTS
Sixth form students from Archbishop Sentamu Academy in Hull are set to get involved in risky business with a lively learning and advice session about careers in insurance.
The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), the insurance sector's professional body, is hosting Insurance and financial services industry careers day at Manchester Conference Centre on Monday 23 April for the school's Careers Academies' finance students.
The day will open with a speech from James McCreary, chief executive of Career Academies, and Karen Cartridge, Insurance Institute of Manchester's president.
Included in the event programme is Discover Risk, the CII's award-winning education initiative which provides more information on the huge range of global opportunities that exist in the sector. The interactive board game demonstrates how vital it is for businesses and people to manage different levels of risk, and how a career in insurance helps meet this responsibility.
In teams, students will participate in a scenario-based activity where different levels of risk are explored. The types of problems facing the would-be risk managers include a pop singer losing her voice on tour, cameras being damaged on a movie set and piracy affecting a company's profits. Bhavisha Tailor and Andrew Nixon, both from Axa, will be on hand to offer support.
Two separate presentations offering an overview into insurance and financial planning will also run. Heading up the insurance session, Stacy Sheridan from Riskworks and Michelle Noonan and Karl Curtis from Chubb Insurance will share their experiences, while Marie Meagher from Cotton Financial Planning, Adam Carolan from Xentum and Morven Millar from Gresham Wealth Management will host a discussion on financial planning.
Career Academies is a national movement of over 1,000 employers and 150 educational institutes that provides social and career development through mentoring, workplace visits, seminars, lectures, internships and workshops.
As well as Archbishop Sentamu Academy, the CII's session is open to Career Academies students from Darwen Aldridge Community Academy in Lancashire, Oldham College in Oldham, Oldershaw Academy in Wallasey and St John Fisher Catholic High School in Dewsbury.
Ian Nichol, Career Academies UK's regional manager for the North West, says: "Career Academies is delighted that its partnership with the CII means that more than 60 students in the region will be able to attend the workshop and find out more about working in insurance and financial services. This will provide essential information for students before they make important choices about their futures."
Caspar Bartington, relationship manager at the CII, adds: "Despite challenging economic conditions, the insurance and financial planning industry remains stable and is making real steps towards establishing itself as a progressive profession. With it, we're seeing a growing interest in insurance and financial services.
"Careers workshops like these are important in giving young people insight into the industry and developing important skills such as teamwork, influence, negotiation and communication. The practitioners on hand have entered the profession at different stages of education, from school leavers to university graduates, so they'll be able to advise on the different routes and career options available."
Career Academies UK
Archbishop Sentamu Academy are an affiliate of Career Academies UK. We decided to take this approach with the Business Studies course as we felt is was a fantastic opportunity for our students. By working with businesses to develop the students knowledge and experiences has allowed them to bring their learning to life and make it relevant.
Career Academies UK is committed to raising the aspirations of young people. They do this by linking education and business. The Career Academy model below shows how this is done:
Partners in Business (PIB)
Young people have access to Partners in Business (PIB). This is an essential part of the programme as the PIB provides one-to-one support with coursework, employment skills, knowledge of work etiquette and helping young people apply their learning to real examples. In addition to this students will get the opportunity to widen their network of business contacts for the future.
Internships
The ‘jewel in the crown' of the Career Academy model is the internship, which takes place towards the end of the first year. Internships are neither the traditional ‘work experience' offered to 15 and 16-year-olds, nor mini versions of undergraduate schemes. Career Academy students (16 to 19-year-olds) may have had less opportunity to develop workplace skills and are likely to need more support and training. Yet - with a year's sixth form study under their belt - they can make a real contribution to the host organisation. Employers report that working with Career Academy interns can enhance the development and boost the morale of existing staff; broaden approaches to employee diversity; and help them identify talent for the future.
Employers hosting Career Academy interns provide
- a six-week paid work placement
- staff time - a main contact and an overall supervisor per student (could be same person); plus a mentor/buddy in each department that the student works
- a job description and list of skill requirements for the internship
- a programme for each internship, based on a standard working hour week in a real operating environment and aiming to use the skills and knowledge the student has learned in school/college
- an interview. Normally there is one candidate for each placement, but we believe that it is important that the student undertakes a formal interview
- a suitable induction for the student on starting work.
Visits and seminars
Visits and seminars are another important element of the programme. By visiting businesses students can bring theory to life and gain experience of being in the workplace.
Guru Lectures
These are an important part of the course and is where businesses provide knowledge about a particular area of study the students are working on. Guru lecturers often come in to the Academy and deliver presentations or workshops to the students and is often a basis for their assignments.
Further information regarding Career Academies UK can be found at: www.careeracademies.org.uk
If you feel that you are able to support us please contact Katrina Johnson at: johnsonk@sentamuacademy.org.uk