Bermuda College students Bathsheba Jones and Khaleel Daley are the recipients of ILS Bermuda Scholarships enabling them to enrol in the Bermuda Insurance Institute ‘Career Pathways’ education initiative.

Ms Jones graduated from CedarBridge Academy in 2016 and is currently enrolled in the AS in Business Administration programme at the Bermuda College. Mr Daley attends the Berkeley Institute and is taking dual enrolment courses at the Bermuda College.

Ms Jones and Mr Daley will work towards an Associate in General Insurance (AINS) designation through the Bermuda Insurance Institute’s ‘Career Pathways’ programme. In addition to the two scholarships, the education initiative of ILS Bermuda offered 14 students complimentary attendance to the annual Bermuda Convergence event in October of last year along with complimentary lectures both before and after the event.

The BII’s Career Pathways programme is designed to provide identified high school and Bermuda College students with knowledge of a key segment of Bermuda’s economy. The ILS Bermuda sponsored scholarships will afford the selected Bermuda College students with an opportunity to earn an internationally recognised insurance designation as well as personal development through work shadow opportunities in the industry through partnership with ILS Bermuda member companies. The BII is Bermuda’s only comprehensive Risk Institute providing assessments, insurance and reinsurance courses, relevant seminars, conferences, and awards and recognition events.

The Career Pathways programme consists of four stages; an Overview Seminar for students, the BII Insurance Induction Programme, courses towards the Associate in General Insurance designation and work shadow opportunities.

To date, Artex, the Horseshoe Group and global reinsurer Tokio Millennium Re, Bermuda have offered to provide work shadowing opportunities and access to professional staff members who are experts in their field.

Kathleen Faries, deputy chair of ILS Bermuda Ltd, and Head of Bermuda branch, Tokio Millennium Re AG, said: “TMR is pleased to be one of the companies offering work shadow opportunities for the ILS Bermuda scholarship recipients. Having an opportunity to gain first hand insight into what type of skills and behaviours contribute to a successful insurance career and network with professionals in the industry is a great opportunity for the recipients and we are excited to be a part of it.”

Several other top industry companies operating in Bermuda and part of the ILS market have indicated interest in participating in the education initiative.

Tim Tetlow of ILS Bermuda’s Thought Leadership & Education team and Partner and Chief Operating Officer of HSCM said: “We are very pleased to announce the two scholarship winners — Bathsheba and Khaleel. Last year they both attended annual Bermuda Convergence event along with 12 other Bermuda College students. The conference was well received by them and their professors. We all agreed this was an excellent opportunity to engage and educate young Bermudians about insurance-linked securities, the fastest growing segment of the insurance market. Our partnership with the BII and Bermuda College will allow students exposure and access to this exciting industry.”

Malcolm Butterfield, chief executive officer of the Bermuda Insurance Institute said: “On behalf of the Bermuda Insurance Institute, we would like to extend our thanks and immense appreciation to ILS Bermuda Ltd for their generous donation this year to support Bermuda College students in achieving education opportunities within the context of the insurance industry. The students who will be supported by this donation can be described as future insurance leaders and we are pleased to be one of the driving forces in this initiative along with ILS Bermuda and the Bermuda College”.

Dr. Phyllis Curtis-Tweed, vice-president, Academic and Student Affairs, Bermuda College said: “Many thanks to ILS Bermuda and BII for developing the scholarship and work shadowing opportunities for Bermuda College students. Special thanks to Tim Tetlow for his leadership in this process. Congratulations to Bathsheba and Khaleel, who are most deserving of this support and opportunity. They will be assets to the industry.”

Craig Simmons, Economics Senior Lecturer of the Bermuda College, said: “Bathsheba and Khaleel have distinguished themselves in the classroom. I now expect them to do the same in the Career Pathways programme as they pursue the Associate in General Insurance.

“Tim Tetlow deserves a lot of credit for bringing the idea of exposing our students to the (re)insurance industry. He has worked tirelessly to make the industry accessible to our students with his dynamic teaching style as well his personal and professional contacts. Tim is a poster child for how alumni should give back to Bermuda College.”