FAQs

What’s in it for me?

The IT Pack is a fantastic opportunity to make your name in the industry, by being recognised as one of the top up-and-coming young brokers in the country. IT Pack members will also be featured throughout the year in Insurance Times – both in print and on the website.

By joining the IT Pack and attending events you’ll hear from and meet up with the leading people at Aviva – some of the biggest names in the industry – as well as celebrity speakers. It’s also a chance to meet, communicate with and learn from your peers – through the events themselves or our Facebook group 'The IT Pack'.

This year, there is a great package of prizes for the winner  including a spell at a top business school, £1000 in vouchers, and the kudos that goes with being the winner and associated PR for that individual in the following year. 

Does it cost anything to join?

Joining the IT Pack and attending IT Pack events is completely FREE. But don’t hang around as places for the events are limited.

Will I earn any professional qualifications?

If you’re studying for your insurance qualifications, for each event you attend you’ll automatically earn 15 CPD points.

What happens if I win?

Our 2011 IT Pack winner will receive a prestigious Insurance Times Award, an experience at a UK-based business school and £1,000 worth of Selfridges vouchers. They’ll also win £5,000 worth of media spend for their brokerage. But the biggest prize of all is the recognition it will earn you in the industry, as one of the potential leaders of tomorrow. Your career could really take off.

Where is my closest IT Pack event?

The events are being held in Leeds, Manchester, Bath and Leicester. Check out the events section to find out when they're on.

Can I attend more than one event?

Absolutely! We want you to attend as more than one and as each event focuses on a different theme. you will have a different learning and networking experience every time.

How do I enter the IT Pack competition?

You simply need to register for an event, attend it and give us your feedback, together with some more information about yourself. Our judges will then choose three finalists from each event, based on attendance and additional criteria.

Who can join the IT Pack?

The IT Pack is open to brokers with less than five years experience in the industry, and/or who are under the age of 30.

What happens if I don’t fit the criteria?

If you’re not eligible to join the IT Pack yourself, you can nominate a colleague who is.

What's the format of each event? 

There is a good period of networking time for you to meet your fellow young brokers, the Aviva trading team representatives, including  Clark Ross our Aviva face of IT Pack in 2011 and the Insurance Times team including our Editor, Ellen Bennett. We choose some inspirational brokers who have ‘made it’ – and clients who have insight to share with you –  and plenty of opportunity for you to pose your Q&As. We select an inspirational celebrity speaker to share their experiences and top tips for success. Previous celebrities have included: Levi Roots; Ruth Badger; Lee McQueen; and Kyran Bracken. And you and your fellow young brokers will have the opportunity to work on group exercise to test your skills to help us select those all important finalists from each event. Networking starts at 11am and we aim to finish by 3.30pm. Refreshments and lunch are  included. Events are free of charge and are covered extensively in Aviva and Insurance Times media.

Do I have to put myself forward for the IT Pack of the year award if I attend an event?

No, you don’t. Many young brokers come for the training and the networking – and the lunch! However, if you do want to be in the running for the IT pack member of the Year, you should definitely make yourself known!

Do I get CPD points?

Yes, you do. The CII have allocated 15 CPD points per event.

What job roles qualify for attendance and do I have to work for a certain sized brokerage?

We are interested in supporting and meeting young brokers across all functional roles and in all sizes of brokers. Take a look at the sample job-titles below – if this is you, and you’ve been in broking for less than 5 years, we want you with us!
Account Executive
Account Handler
Marketing Executive
Claims Executive
E-marketing Executive
Personal Assistant
Sales Executive
Compliance Executive
If you’re not sure, and you’d like some more info, call Kat on +44 (0)20 7618 3492 (direct). She takes care of all our IT Packers, is very friendly and always happy to help you. You can also email her on katherine.ball@insurancetimes.co.uk.

I work in the London Market. Can I still attend?

As long as you have worked in insurance broking for less than 5 years, you are more than welcome to join us!

What's the process for identifying the 3 finalists from each event?

Ellen Bennett (Editor, Insurance Times) and Clark Ross (Head of Trading, Aviva) will get to know you in the networking session and in the group activities and over lunch. If you want to be considered as a Finalist, your evaluation form will also play a part. Ellen and Clark are looking for:
Demonstrable career success beyond what would usually be expected for someone of your experience.
A broad understanding of the insurance market, and curiosity about trends and developments outside their specific role.
A commitment to training and their personal career development within the insurance industry.
Confidence and the ability to articulate their thoughts; excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
Maturity and ability to act as an ambassador for the IT Pack.
If you’re fortunate enough to be a Finalist, you’ll be invited to a residential weekend in October. As a result of this weekend, there will be a Finalists’ shortlist, who will be invited to the Annual Insurance Times Awards held in London on December 6^th 2011 as guests of Aviva where the winner will be announced.

As a broker principal, what's in it for me?

This is the IT Pack’s third year, and the feedback we have from attendees is that not only is the networking with other young brokers really valued, the opportunity to hear expert speakers and inspirational broker case studies delivers training with a difference – they can go back to the office ready to make a difference. Your young brokers will learn new things, meet interesting people following the same career path, and have the opportunity to ask questions of Aviva. The training is free, and comes with CPD from the CII, and, as an additional incentive, if one of your people wins the prestigious ‘IT Pack member of the Year’, Aviva will reward your commitment to supporting future broker leaders with £5,000 of media spend.

Does my company/do I currently need to be placing business with Aviva?

No – there is no requirement for you, or your company, to have an existing relationship with Aviva to be part of the IT Pack Programme, or even to win the IT Pack Member of the Year Award. However, if you are interested in any aspect of working with Aviva, their trading representatives at each event will be happy to help.

What kind of people will I be meeting from Aviva?

Senior trading representatives from the local trading team will be present , also Business Development managers , who maybe your own. Their will also be a chance to impress Clark Ross our IT Pack Aviva face for 2011 who is a Senior member of our trading team also. Anna-Marie Powell and Chris Cornwall are the Marketing guys that make it happen from an Aviva perspective.
We will also draw in Aviva experts as appropriate to the theme of each event, these could be Aviva people or external experts in their field.