The insurance industry has never been more important. As organisations navigate evolving risks, technological change and increasing customer expectations, the need for skilled, adaptable and diverse talent continues to grow.
Yet the industry is facing a significant challenge. The London Market Group has highlighted an ageing workforce and the need for additional talent to meet future workforce demand over the coming years.
Addressing that challenge cannot start when someone finishes education. It starts much earlier.
It starts by helping young people understand what insurance is, the opportunities available and the impact they can have through a career in our industry.
At Velonetic, we believe creating those opportunities is not only important for individual organisations, but for the long-term sustainability of the market as a whole. As an organisation supporting services used across the London Insurance Market, we recognise that developing future talent is critical to the continued success, resilience, and growth of the market ecosystem we serve.
Opening doors to the industry
Many young people have limited awareness of the careers available within insurance. While roles such as underwriting and broking may be more familiar, there are exciting career pathways in less visible areas such as technology, operations, data, marketing, customer experience, finance and transformation.
Programmes such as the London Market Group’s Futures Academy play an important role in broadening that awareness and giving students direct exposure to the industry. The programme brings students into the London Market, helping them understand the different career paths available and providing valuable workplace experience with participating firms.
Recently, Velonetic welcomed four Year 12 students as part of the programme, allowing them to experience life within our organisation and gain an insight into the many different roles that support the London insurance market.
Throughout the placement, students engaged with colleagues from across the business, exploring a variety of functions and career paths across operations, technology, marketing and customer relationship management. They also took part in networking opportunities, participated in mock interviews and worked on projects before presenting their ideas back to colleagues.
For many young people, these experiences provide a first meaningful introduction to the world of work and help transform insurance from an unfamiliar industry into a tangible and exciting career option.
"By supporting programmes like Futures Academy, we're helping young people build confidence and discover opportunities they may never have considered."
Suzie Sherborne, Early Careers Lead
Building a more diverse and sustainable talent pipeline
One of the greatest opportunities within Early Careers programmes is the ability to broaden access within the industry.
The Futures Academy engages with schools and students from a range of backgrounds, providing opportunities to individuals who may not have previously considered insurance as a career path.
However, awareness is only part of the solution. Creating sustainable pathways into the industry also means helping young people take the next step into employment. This is where initiatives such as the London Market Group’s Talent Hub play an important role, connecting aspiring talent with organisations across the market.
We are pleased to have recently recruited four young people through the Talent Hub, all of whom will join Velonetic's first apprenticeship programme in September.
This year we also supported the London Market Group's Pathfinder programme, a collaboration designed to provide employers with access to a pool of upskilled, under-represented talent who are ready to enter the workplace through entry-level roles outside of traditional graduate and apprenticeship pathways. In January, we welcomed three Pathfinders into roles across HR, Strategy & Growth, and Technology.
By creating multiple routes into the industry, these programmes help broaden access to careers in insurance, ensuring organisations can benefit from a wider range of perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds.
A shared responsibility across the market
Addressing the talent challenge is not something any organisation can solve alone.
Industry-wide initiatives demonstrate the value of collaboration, bringing together market participants to raise awareness of insurance careers and create meaningful routes into the profession. No single organisation can solve the industry’s talent challenge alone. Sustainable progress requires insurers, brokers, service providers, and market bodies to work together to inspire, attract, and develop future talent.
For organisations, involvement is an opportunity to contribute to the market's future while helping young people gain experience that can shape their career aspirations. For young people, it offers practical insight into an industry that many may have never previously considered.
At Velonetic, supporting future talent extends beyond a single programme. Through initiatives such as our apprenticeship and graduate pathways, alongside participation in programmes like Futures Academy and Pathfinder, we are helping to develop the next generation of insurance professionals and future industry leaders.
Looking ahead
The talent challenge facing insurance is well-documented. However, it is also an opportunity.
By investing in Early Careers programmes, creating accessible pathways into the industry and helping young people understand the breadth of opportunities available, we can build a stronger, more diverse and more resilient workforce for the future.
The conversations we have with young people today may shape the leaders, innovators and industry experts of tomorrow.
Investing in future talent is not simply a recruitment activity. It is a collective investment in the future strength, resilience, and innovation of the London Insurance Market.
Explore our Early Careers programmes and discover the different pathways available at Velonetic.