And the winner is……
It’s a wrap! Series three of The Insurance Apprentice has officially come to an end after the winner was announced on 28 March at a star studded event at The Venue in Sandton. Having brought her all into the competition, Kabelo Paile, Relationship Manager at Santam, was crowned as the winner of The Insurance Apprentice 2017
Setting the scene
Shaun Keeling, who was the guest speaker at the event, sponsored by EasyEquities, touched upon his career as a South African rower.
Having won a silver medal in the men's coxless pair event at the 2016 Summer Olympics and also competing in the men's coxless pair event at the 2008 Summer Olympics, Keeling said “If you believe in something fully, you can achieve it. Looking back, after all the struggles and challenges you face, it is amazing to have made it to the place you believed you could be,” he said.
Simon Colman, Executive Head: Alternative Distribution at SHA Specialist Underwriters, then explained the judging criteria and process of the filming week and gave an overview of each sponsor’s task.
Colman went on to thank all the sponsors for the evening including the event sponsors; Chubb, Santam, SHA Specialist Underwriters and Global Choices for sponsoring the event. Masifunde Training Centre for sponsoring eight Fondi Android seven tablets and two bursaries for the top two apprentices - Kurt Stanley and Mutoda Mahamba worth R27 500 each, Tracker South Africa, for sponsoring prizes – luxury leather gift bags, for the second – Kurt Stanley, third – Mutoda Mahamba and fourth – Nick Kadima runner up and Insure Group, for sponsoring business books for each apprentice.
Ready, steady…go
Following this, each apprentice was called up to the podium to receive a unique certificate as one minute videos sponsored by Centriq Insurance played. Colman then proceeded with the announcement of the top four candidates, in no particular order – Kabelo Paile, Kurt Stanley, Mutoda Mahamba and Nick Kadima.
Setting the scene with total silence, Kabelo was then announced as the winner of The Insurance Apprentice 2017.
John Sibanda, General Representative of Lloyd's South Africa handed Kabelo her prize of a trip to Lloyds of London, sponsored by Lloyds of London and Nadia Starr, Learning Division Manager at Inseta presented her with a bursary worth R75 000, sponsored by Inseta, to study the course of her choice.
The Insurance Institute of South Africa (IISA) is also sponsoring the winner to go to the Insurance Conference at Sun City in July.
In giving her speech Kabelo thanked her fellow apprentices for walking the journey with her and thanked Santam and everyone for their support. “I have no words to describe the feeling of winning The Insurance Apprentice 2017. I still feel like I am walking on cloud nine. It is such an honour to compete against the best and win. Thank you to the industry for grooming us. We are where we are because of you,” she said.
The final episode, sponsored by PWV Insurance Brokers, ‘Announcing the winner’ coming soon. Stay tuned.
Congratulations in order
FAnews would like to congratulate Kabelo on winning the title of The Insurance Apprentice 2017 and all the finalists; Keith Bester (Hollard), Kurt Stanley (Associated Insurance Brokers), Lisa Foster (Hollard), Mutoda Mahamba (MMI), Nick Kadima (Lombard Insurance), Palesa Bolofo (Hollard) and Sicelo Mlotshwa (Aon South Africa) for undergoing tough challenges and for proving that they are the insurance industry’s young talent and cream of the crop.
Photos of the event can be viewed here
A word of thanks
We would like to thank all the sponsors for their sponsorship and support of The Insurance Apprentice 2017. Each and every one of you played a significant role in this initiative from the beginning.
Without you, the series would not have been possible, and we cannot begin to say THANK YOU enough.
The sponsors are Auto & General, Aon South Africa, Centriq Insurance, Chubb, CN&CO, Discovery Insure, FNB Insurance Brokers, the Financial Services Board (FSB), Global Choices, Hollard, Inseta, Insure Group, Marsh, Lloyds of London, Masifunde Training Centre (MTC), Norton Rose Fulbright, Price Forbes, PWV Insurance Brokers, Santam Insurance, Sasria, SHA Specialist Underwriters, the IISA and Tracker South Africa.
Previous episodes
Did you miss one of The Insurance Apprentice episodes? Watch it:
1. Episode one: Meet the 2017 apprentices - sponsored by Aon South Africa
2. Episode two: Difficult conversations with clients – sponsored by Marsh
3. Episode three: Pedal to the metal – sponsored by Discovery Insure
4. Episode four: It’s a riot – sponsored by Sasria
5. Episode five: Sharing is caring – sponsored by Hollard
6. Episode six: An industry of opportunities – sponsored by Inseta
7. Episode seven: Miracle workers – sponsored by the FSB
8. Episode eight: COMING SOON……
Editor’s Thoughts:
Finally, the wait is now over as we see who The Insurance Apprentice 2017 winner is. With this, we say goodbye to another successful series as we open the next chapter of The Insurance Apprentice 2018. Applications are open. For more information visit www.theinsuranceapprentice.co.za. Please comment below, interact with us on Twitter at @fanews_online or email me your thoughts myra@fanews.co.za.
