Camargue extends its internship programme after a successful year one

Camargue Managing Director Mitch Marescia with the outgoing and new interns joining the group. From Left - Thabani Ngubeni, Nadine Nanchou, Bonisile Ndlovu, Ablonia Ramela (standing), Mitch Marescia (standing), Agostinho Domingosi, Alexandre Sadiki, Shelly- Ann Goeieman, and Melina Rafedile.

So successful was the internship programme launched by Camargue Underwriting Managers in July 2012 that the Group has rolled out year two of the project and welcomed its second group of interns into the fold. The students are all handpicked and on merit join the underwriting team, where they are exposed to the intricacies of the insurance underwriting industry and Camargue’s commercial liability products.

Three new interns fresh out of school made the cut this year and join two of the year one interns who were selected to stay on as permanent members of the greater Camargue team.

In addition to the practical work experience, the interns will participate in monthly training sessions outside of the office, with the Insurance Learning Academy. The content covered in these sessions includes, among many other topics: insurable risk and underwriting, personal motor and contents insurance, multi-peril insurance, industry ethics, compliance and Law of Contract.

Partnering with Camargue in the intern programme, Firsthand Coaching’s leadership coach Charles Marriott says: "The Camargue internship programme reflects the company’s progressive thinking. It is building capacity for the insurance industry, as well as building capacity in young South Africans, and by so doing they are uncovering their own potential and strengthening their own self-worth. The opportunity to be coached on a regular basis has also contributed to this growth as they are challenged to face their own fears and habits and find more constructive ways of engaging at work.”

Adding to this Marriott says that after just one year, there is clear evidence that the mixture of reflection, academic learning and practical exposure to the operations of underwriting is really empowering the interns to be valuable contributors in the insurance industry, whether at Camargue or elsewhere.

The Camargue model – a combination of training and hands on practical application - is believed to be the best way to develop a pool of real talent and according to Camargue Managing Director, Mitch Marescia, the Group is committed to long-term investment into the future of the insurance industry. A commitment that will effect meaningful change; Camargue is challenging the industry to step up and do the same.

"Our interns are mentored by a team of highly experienced specialist underwriters and our training LAB also plays an important role in the up-skilling of the team,” says Marescia. "We take our CSI very seriously – this is not an exercise in cheap score carding - we are developing our society and our industry. We recognise what it means to be a firm of endearment and instead of paying lip service, we are doing what it takes to be meaningful drivers of change.”

For more information on Camargue’s Internship Programme contact the team on (011) 778 9140 or visit: www.camargueum.co.za