Career Development: Are you the future of the profession?

The initiative, run by the CII's Faculties, is intended to support the retention of talent and develop tomorrow's insurance stars. Designed to complement existing company talent programmes, the year-long initiative provides members with a range of learning opportunities.

These include an interactive session with key Financial Conduct Authority personnel, meetings with MPs and trade bodies and a visit to the Houses of Parliament. Participants will also benefit from media training and a series of informal networking opportunities.

Each of the four faculty groups will be asked to identify and complete a project they believe will enhance the reputation of the profession and improve customer outcomes.

Ant Gould, CII director of faculties, said: "In the four years we have been running the New Generation Programme, we have seen some inspiring initiatives and projects that have helped encourage positive change. "As well as shaping the future of the profession, those participating have been able to gain new skills, understand the wider industry and expand their networks both within and outside of their own businesses and specialism."

Stephen Bridge, senior commercial underwriter at LV and past member said: "The New Generation programme gave me the opportunity to work with like-minded individuals to develop a project we truly believed could make a difference. Furthermore, seeing how our initiative has been received has been a truly rewarding and unique experience. In addition the programme allowed me to make invaluable professional relationships through exposing me to a wide ranging network of contacts I wouldn't have made otherwise."

Applicants for this year's programme, which starts in the autumn, must be members of the appropriate CII faculty, have between five and 10 years insurance experience and be qualified to at least Dip CII level. The deadline for applications is 5pm on Friday 7 August 2015.

For more information please contact new.generation@cii.co.uk, or visit www.cii.co.uk/events/new-generation-programme