Santam has kicked off its national roadshow of universities to fill the 12 highly sought after slots for their 2011 Graduate Accelerate Programme (GAP). This programme is an enabling and capacity building partnership that the organisation offers to bright, driven and ambitious young graduates. This graduate programme is in its 3rd year and boasts a yearly investment of around R3.5 million and 100% placement of the first group of graduates.
The roadshow started with great visibility at WITS, University of Johannesburg and UWC and will end at Campus of KZN in July 2011 when the entry submissions will close.
GAP’s aim is to create a pool of young professionals who will take short-term insurance into the future. The GAP recruits South African graduates with a strong academic record and offers them a unique partnership. It’s not only about their academic record but about the ability to show initiative and a strong desire to be active in a dynamic organisation,” says Talent Resourcing manager at Santam, Chantal Syce.
GAP is open to commerce, management, law, risk management, industrial engineering, IT, actuarial science, financial engineering and applied sciences graduates. This is a strategic recruitment programme that is designed to put graduates in direct contact with Santam and gives them access to the enormous pool of expertise and intellectual property domiciled at Santam to help them grow their skills to eventually contribute to the future success of the organisation.
The GAP has numerous phases. They include a recruitment process that rolls out at universities and a dedicated Facebook page and Twitter feed. Once the graduates have been selected, they will undergo a development programme that includes formal training, projects, mentorship and access to further formal qualifications. These six-month business rotations are designed to teach specialist short-term insurance knowledge and skills.
“Santam recruits graduates into specific business units, therefore opportunities available will vary. However the development, social and community activities in the program ensure that graduates will establish a network of peer relationships whilst simultaneously gaining solid experience.”
Graduates will also have access to Santam’s staff support structure and infrastructure. The short-term insurance giant will cover relocation fees and study fees.
“At Santam we know that success comes through partnerships and through the collaboration of human relationships. We are fully invested in the GAP initiative. We are certain it’s going to bring us the best and brightest minds in South Africa. And we are confident that GAP is going to work with us to unlock an exciting market of emerging short-term insurance consumers,” Syce says.
Graduates who are interested in this opportunity may get more information at http://www.santam.co.za/. Those still at university should look out for recruiters on their campuses in the next few weeks, applications for the first intake of students close on 29 July 2011.
Get the latest issue of FAnews