Zurich Insurance, Aon, U.S. Dept. of Labor Join Forces to Attract New Entrants to Chicago’s Insurance and Financial Services Sectors through Apprenticeship Programs
Collaboration will expand apprenticeship programs, creating key
talent pool and offering new opportunities in insurance and financial
services for Chicago area students
SCHAUMBURG, Ill.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Zurich North America today announced a new effort to encourage the
creation of apprenticeship programs across the insurance and financial
services industries in Chicago. To kick start the initiative, Zurich
North America Commercial CEO Mike Foley, Aon President & CEO Greg Case
and representatives from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) are bringing
together Chicago’s top leaders in insurance and financial services to
discuss the path forward in creating apprenticeship programs for Chicago
area students.
“Apprenticeship programs represent a win-win opportunity for students
and employers,” said Foley. “Students get paid a salary to gain
experience from business professionals in established companies, while
earning a tuition-free degree, and businesses can gain access to a new
pool of talent specifically trained for their needs.”
Zurich, Aon and the DOL will host a breakfast on March 7 in Chicago for
CEOs and other senior leaders to build enthusiasm and gain commitment to
create programs of their own using the Zurich and Aon models as guides.
“Building a highly-skilled and diverse workforce is important not only
for the U.S. economy but to the future of our industry,” said Aon
President & CEO Greg Case. “We have a unique opportunity as a Chicago
business community to train the best and brightest people in our city,
creating a pipeline for the financial services jobs of the future.”
“The apprenticeship model works and that is why President Obama has made
it a priority to double the number of Registered Apprenticeships in the
coming years,” said Deputy Secretary of Labor Chris Lu. “What Zurich is
doing to create apprenticeship opportunities in the insurance industry
is truly transformative, and I look forward to working with them to
expand this exciting initiative.”
Foley announced the new initiative during an event to celebrate Zurich’s
insurance apprenticeship program, which is the first of its kind in the
U.S. and first to receive certification from the DOL. Zurich has made
the commitment to work with Harper College to train at least 100
apprentices by 2020.
About Zurich
Zurich Insurance Group (Zurich) is a leading multi-line insurer that
serves its customers in global and local markets. With more than 55,000
employees, it provides a wide range of general insurance and life
insurance products and services. Zurich’s customers include individuals,
small businesses, and mid-sized and large companies, including
multinational corporations, in more than 170 countries. The Group is
headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, where it was founded in 1872. In
North America, Zurich is a leading commercial property-casualty
insurance provider serving the global corporate, large corporate, middle
market, specialties and programs sectors through the individual member
companies of Zurich in North America, including Zurich American
Insurance Company. For more information about the products and services
it offers and people Zurich employs around the world go to http://www.zurichna.com.
About Aon
Aon plc (NYSE:AON) is a leading global provider of risk management,
insurance brokerage and reinsurance brokerage, and human resources
solutions and outsourcing services. Through its more than 72,000
colleagues worldwide, Aon unites to empower results for clients in over
120 countries via innovative risk and people solutions. For further
information on our capabilities and to learn how we empower results for
clients, please visit: http://aon.mediaroom.com.
Contacts
Zurich North America
Jennifer Schneider, 847-605-6511
jennifer.schneider@zurichna.com
or
Aon
Donna
Mirandola, 312-381-1532
donna.mirandola@aon.com
