Acknowledging the looming deficit in the insurance job market, GenAc's Chief Operating Officer, Gregory Foster, described the programme as strategic.

“General Accident has always prided itself on talent acquisition and building our talent, so with the industry over the years having been short on talent, our route is to identify talent with the requisite attributes from other industries and reposition them for the insurance industry,” explained Foster.

Giving an overview of the internship, Foster added that the early stages of the programme would be geared towards introduction to the industry from a regulatory standpoint, soft skills, systems training and technical training in all aspects of business. “We believe these interns should be well-rounded in all aspects of our business.”

The selected interns, Janelle Gregory, Adrian Bennett, Donielle Hope, Rasheem Kennedy, Raheem Linton, Tyreese Nelson, Davica McLeish and Ashley Distant, were chosen for not only their academic achievements but also the potential they demonstrated.

Preparing the latest additions to the team for their new roles within the company, the GenAc senior managers present at the programme launch shared their best pieces of advice to the interns about entering the workforce. Former GenAc intern Lashane Sinclair, now a GenAc Management Trainee, shared insights from his various challenges and wins while working with the general insurance provider.

As he closed, Sinclair encouraged the interns, “Interns, pull up your socks, put your best foot forward and make the best of every opportunity that comes your way.”

The guest speaker, Janille Jarrett, shared her journey with GenAc, starting in the filing room, being promoted several times and now being the current General Manager of the AutoSmart Division.

“I could only spell insurance; I knew nothing about insurance. I didn't know what to expect, '' she emphasised. “Do not make excuses; things will not always be perfect, and you will not always have all that you need to do the task that you are given to do but do not make excuses,” Jarrett explained.

Keen on making the most of the experience, University of the West Indies student, Janelle Gregory extended kudos to GenAc for creating the internship programme.

“I think it’s a really good initiative; I think it’s one that we need, especially here in Jamaica, because so many young people are graduating from university in a certain degree and field, and they are not able to find jobs because of a lack of experience. I think this is a perfect pathway for new graduates to enter the workforce at such an established company.”

The year-long internship will utilise a hybrid classroom learning approach coupled with on-the-job training. Throughout the programme, the interns will be assessed and assigned a final case study.