QBE welcomes students to paid work placement programme

QBE European Operations has welcomed 14 students from London and Leeds as part of the 2023 Schools Partnership Programme. The first of a four-week paid work placement kicked off with a Bridging the Gap Consultancy workshop focusing on Financial Literacy, where students discussed the need for budgeting and savings before learning more about different types of debt, employment, and taxes.

Providing mentorship and work experience

Established in 2020 in the UK by QBE's Mix network, the programme provides mentorship and work experience to students aged 16 to 19 from diverse ethnic and social backgrounds. The initiative is designed to introduce students to a career in the insurance industry, enhance their skills and broaden their networks.

Teams across QBE European Operations play a role in hosting students and devote time and energy towards creating a fun, challenging, and innovative development programme to enrich the student's experiences.

The 2023 programme sees the biggest intake since its launch, with 14 students from London and Leeds participating in a four-week work placement followed by eight weeks of mentoring.

"We look forward to growing the programme in the future and welcoming even more students to QBE," commented QBE.

Benefiting future students

Bridging The Gap Consultancy has been in partnership with QBE European Operations since 2021, bringing their Schools Partnership Programme to fruition.

"We are committed to working together and growing this program to benefit more students in the future," said Bridging The Gap Consultancy. "Each year, we are amazed by how much the students learn and how swiftly they adapt to the professional world. They take ownership of projects, leaving a lasting impact on the teams they collaborate with. We find immense pleasure in observing the ongoing success of previous cohorts as they achieve remarkable feats in their lives. However, it is essential to remember that these young people exemplify incredible talent, which many companies might overlook if they do not prioritize true inclusive ethnic diversity on their agendas."