Andrew Holt examines the IIB's online training resources
Training is at the heart of the Institute of Insurance Brokers' (IIB) work.
"Training and development are what we are all about as an organisation. I think we are the best at it," says an enthused IIB chairman Andrew Paddick.
As part of its training package the IIB offers members the Institute Register of Insurance Brokers ( www.reg-broker.co.uk ) which was born in 2001, following the demise of IBRC, to provide a membership arena for individual general insurance brokers.
It also offers IIB's staff assessment site, which provides a facility for employers to test their employees in a variety of technical subjects as part of a full training and compliance programme.
Ann Peel, head of IIB technical services, says: "This helps as a back-up not only for the employee but also the supervisor. It can be helpful to the supervisor to see what the employee's strengths are."
The quantity, range and depth of continuing professional development (CPD) activity is to help ensure ongoing competence, which will vary for each individual, dependent upon experience and the nature of their role and responsibilities.
As guidance only, it is suggested that all Institute Registered Insurance Brokers (IRIBs) undertake at least 12 hours CPD each year, of which at least half should be 'structured'.
This includes attending seminars, training sessions and other organised events.
It also involves participating in structured in-house training and undertaking distance learning.
Unstructured CPD includesreading technical articles and the trade press aimed at helping IRIBs address important issues within a fast developing marketplace.
This helps the broker to achieve CPD through the technical articles and links to news and training events. There is a CPD recording facility - online CPD activities will be recorded automatically, so the broker is then able to input other activities to form a complete individual record.
Employee test
However, can it mean that an employee will be exposed as not knowledgeable enough?
"It can happen," says Peel. "But many firms use the training system at the recruitment stage of the job. They can set a test, which can be done in 15 minutes, to get an instant response and score for a potential recruit."
The benefit here is obvious, ensuring that a more developed and knowledgeable individual is employed in the first place.
Currently only around 300 IIB members are signed up to the system out of more than 1,000 members.
But, given the changing regulatory environment, the need for individuals and firms to approach CPD in a co-ordinated way has never been more significant and has never posed so many challenges.
"There can be no doubt that continuing personal development is fundamental to maintaining confidence, competence and professionalism, and is also likely to be crucial to your firm's compliance arrangements," says Peel. CPD activity should therefore complement and help to fulfil your firm's training and competency requirements.
"We encourage firms to think about regulation, training and competency and promote CPD activities," says Peel.
So, IRIBs undertake CPD to help them assist and keep up with changes in the industry, to extend their technical knowledge and skills and to maintain their professionalism throughout their careers.
Peel says: "A lot are embracing members who are spending their own time doing their own development and we say they need to keep it up."
The website helps members undertake and record such CPD activities, as well as providing a means for them to air their views on regulation and other topics affecting their business lives.
It also offers an online training package in personal insurance.
"We were the first to start with training online," says Peel.
Although my attempts at completing a household insurance test online proved shoddy, as I got a mere eight out 20 answers correct, my supervisor's response was that more study was needed in the unlikely event of me wanting to become a household insurance adviser.
"People who complete these tests are generally studying or dealing with these issues all the time, so yours wasn't that bad," says Peel.
It only goes to prove that training and professional development are not plain sailing and take dedicated real work.
