The Island's biggest insurance brokerage firm Marsh will send representatives into the Island's public and private schools over the next two months to spread the word that there are huge opportunities for young Bermudians interested in becoming brokers.

The company grasped the initiative after noticing that young people considering careers in the insurance industry were far less aware of broking and captive insurance as a potential career, than they were of underwriting or actuarial roles, for example.

As a result, Marsh and its reinsurance brokerage arm Guy Carpenter, have started sending a group of their employees into secondary schools, giving a presentation aimed at explaining in easily understandable terms how the insurance industry works.

In November, Bermuda High School (BHS) students experienced the first presentation. Four additional schools have also agreed to the initiative: The Berkeley Institute, CedarBridge Academy, Saltus and Warwick Academy and the presentation will also be seen by the International Baccalaureate programme students at BHS.

The discussion covers the basics of insurance and reinsurance, a role play between a risk manager, broker, insurance underwriter and insurance officer, as well as the qualifications needed to become a broker or captive insurance officer. "The insurance sector is a dynamic industry and we want to encourage Bermudian students to learn more about it," said Chris Reeves, a managing director of Marsh Inc. and president of Marsh Global Placement (Bermuda) Ltd.

"Broking and captive insurance are less appreciated as career paths when students think about insurance and reinsurance. We want to raise awareness among students, expose them to these industries and give them the opportunity to ask as many questions as possible early in their decision making process."

There are more than 500 people working as brokers or in the captive insurance industry on the Island, working for companies such as Aon, JLT Park, Willis and IAS. The demand for keen and able young Bermudians in this branch of the industry is constant.

Levyette Robinson, head of secondary at BHS, where the first presentation took place, was impressed with the presentation.

"The Marsh and Guy Carpenter team was comprised of a variety of young people whose experiences were varied in terms of what jobs they perform in the insurance and reinsurance industry and how they arrived in those positions. The use of real world scenarios to walk the students through the steps involved in insurance and reinsurance was very effective," she said. "The students had a much better understanding of the opportunities available in the insurance and reinsurance arena and some who had not thought of it as a career option subsequently then agreed that they would consider it."

Marsh also hopes to visit Mount Saint Agnes Academy and Somersfield Academy.