Updated insurance apprenticeship standards attract strong market uptake for ‘more modern approach’

In May 2026, government organisation Skills England – which seeks to support professional skill set development in the UK – updated its apprenticeship standards and assessment plans to ensure these programmes teach the skills, knowledge and behaviours reflective of the current insurance industry.

Developed in consultation with industry employers, training providers and assessment organisations, the revised standards cover the insurance professional level four, senior insurance professional level six and insurance practitioner level three programmes.

The changes implemented by Skills England endeavoured to remove unnecessary duplication and better integrate pathways that enable apprentices to develop occupational competence while progressing towards recognised professional qualifications.

The insurance market’s response to the revised programmes has been widely positive, with strong interest from sector firms evident already.

One such employer is claims specialist Davies, which has enrolled or is currently onboarding around 60 apprentices onto the level four programme, with a further 15 apprentices joining the new level six senior insurance professional standard.

Speaking exclusively to Insurance Times, Craig Potter, senior partner and co-lead of people development at Davies, said that “the strong uptake seen during the initial launch period suggests the market was ready for a more modern approach to insurance apprenticeships”.

He continued: “As the insurance sector continues to focus on attracting, retaining and developing talent, apprenticeship pathways such as these will play an increasingly important role in building a sustainable pipeline of future professionals.

“With many experienced practitioners approaching retirement and the industry continuing to face skills and talent shortages, creating clear and accessible routes into insurance has never been more important.”

‘Beyond traditional insurance roles’

Similarly, more than half of Zurich UK’s early careers apprentices joining the insurer later this year are also undertaking one of the revised insurance apprenticeship standards.

This is according to Anthony Lewis, apprenticeships lead at Zurich UK, who stressed that “strong apprenticeship pathways” are “vital for attracting and developing future talent”.

Plus, the new standards support a wide range of learners, Lewis explained, encompassing “those starting their careers, career changers, graduates and experienced professionals looking to continue their development”.

With the insurer offering apprenticeships in functions including finance and accountancy, alongside emerging skill areas – such as business analytics and data –  Lewis said he hopes to showcase the “wide range of career opportunities beyond traditional insurance roles” that the industry offers.

He told Insurance Times: “As the industry continues to evolve, it is important that we harness the skills and perspectives of a digitally native workforce while providing lifelong learning opportunities for people at every stage of their career.

“By doing so, we can continue to build the expertise and capabilities needed to navigate an increasingly complex and rapidly changing insurance landscape.”

Wider reforms

While market firms are beginning to embed Skills England’s revised apprenticeship standards into their existing programmes, the updates also coincide with wider reforms to England’s apprenticeship system.

For example, the UK government decided to remove levy funding for the majority of level seven apprenticeships – which are master’s degree equivalent programmes – from January 2026.

Jacqueline Girow, executive director at the London and International Insurance Brokers’ Association (Liiba), said she expects employers within the London insurance market that offer apprenticeships to be looking at “how best to incorporate all or some of these [apprenticeship changes] into their short, medium and long-term planning”.

Girow explained that the trade body’s ongoing collection of Belonging@Liiba initiatives, which promote diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the London market, will continue to focus on “how equitable the future of employment” is and investigate how changes to the apprenticeship system will “reflect that”.

She continued: “Of special interest to us is how small and medium-sized enterprises, [which] form the majority of Liiba’s membership, can look to capitalise on the recent changes announced, as traditionally it has been hugely difficult for firms of this size to engage in any meaningful involvement with apprenticeships.

“The findings of our research [on this topic] will be published during the first half of 2027.”