During the King’s visit in April, Government House and a British junior minister hosted a round table focusing on the state of insurance, Dave Morgan, the Deputy Governor has told an industry gathering.

He said that last month’s high-level meeting was managed by Stephen Doughty, Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories.

Mr Morgan said: “I heard quite a bit about insurance, reinsurance, probably more than I would ever need to know … certainly during the King’s visit, where Minister Doughty hosted a really successful round table at Government House, gathering some of the leading lights of the industry here, to look at some of the issues that the insurance industry and the population of the globe, frankly, faces more widely.

“So, thank you to everybody who leant into that successful event and I know that the King, himself, was very pleased with both the discussions that took place and the outcomes that hopefully now will follow.”

The Deputy Governor was speaking during a reception at O'Hara House to “Celebrate Bermuda’s Summer Interns”, hosted by the Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers and its member companies.

The reception also featured David Burt, the Premier and finance minister, as a special guest, and was attended by Crystal Caesar, the Minister of Education, Antoinette Hurtado, the US Consul-General, senior industry professionals and other officials.

The reception, on the eve of Abir’s second-quarter board meeting, marked the beginning of the largest, private-sector student internship programme on island. Member company summer interns were all invited.

They heard a powerful message of the significant opportunities provided to them through the industry and the internships, and the unparalleled access they had in Bermuda to senior industry personnel.

Mr Burt congratulated the interns, Abir and industry companies for growing opportunities for young Bermudians, expanding the internship programme significantly, including a $600,000 injection this summer.

He said: “This is an example of the commitment that we see [among] industry, Government and the people of Bermuda.

“Bermuda is a special place. We’re blessed to have an insurance industry that is the envy of so may people around the world.”

He commended the interns gathered and implored them: “Please take advantage of the opportunity. It is important that you do. Ask questions. Show up. Go that extra mile. Learn. Network. Find out more about the industry.”

He told them to remember they are special: “Young persons like you have less anxiety than people in America or the United Kingdom who enter the workforce, because Bermudians are in demand here.

“Companies want to make sure they hire Bermudians and this government is working alongside of them to make sure they do that. So please make sure you take advantage of that opportunity and excel.”

Meanwhile, Jevon Williams, the general counsel of Chubb Bermuda, urged the interns to take advantage of an opportunity not found outside the island. He told them to establish relationships with senior industry personnel who may be willing to mentor them.

“I’ve been to other jurisdictions,” Mr Williams said. “Most of the senior leaders gathered here can attest to the fact that this doesn’t happen in many other places.

“We really can’t take this concentration of talent and access to senior leaders for granted.”