The search is on… for the final 8 #TIA2019 contestants

Entries for series five of The Insurance Apprentice officially closed with 159 applications received.

What’s next?
So what now? Having closed entries for the competition on 31 August, the next step is to move onto the elimination rounds.

This year’s elimination rounds, sponsored by Price Forbes, will be bringing in an element of intrigue and a tiny bit of fun.

Rianet Whitehead, Editor of FAnews and the creator of The Insurance Apprentice says, “it is a priority to attract the necessary talent and that is why we do the elimination rounds in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. Even though the number of applications we received this year is slightly lower than last year, in my own personal capacity having reviewed the applications, I must say with this year’s applications it’s quality over quantity.”

The selected candidates who have been chosen to go through to the second round, which is the elimination round, will be notified next week and they will be invited to what we call ‘an interview session’ filled with fun tid bits and the necessary seriousness.

For those candidates who make it through to the second round, elimination dates are as follows:

• Durban 17 September;
• Cape Town 18 September; and
• Johannesburg 25 September

Once this adventure is complete, panelists will then sift through these applications and identify the top 20 candidates who will take part in a video voting element in order to reach the final destination in determining the top eight for The Insurance Apprentice 2019.

When you don’t make it
Not making the cut is always disappointing and no matter how we word it, it is not the best email to receive.

“I keep reminding people that the best things in life don’t always come easy and when you eventually make it through to the reward, the taste of victory is sweet. Never give up… I suppose it is all about how bad you want it!” says Whitehead.

The road ahead
Whitehead says, “We have a long process ahead of us in determining who the final eight will be, but the elimination rounds will bring us a bit closer to where we need to go. Thanks to my team and the industry experts, the process will ease accordingly.”

Whitehead wished to thank the panel members for their support and participation. She said, “It is comforting to know that there is a strong commitment to this initiative. I believe this is beneficial to the industry and with a helping hand, we are one step closer to the start of something great.”

We would like to remind you… The winner of The Insurance Apprentice wins a trip to Lloyds of London, a R75 000 bursary from Inseta, a cash prize of R20 000 from Masifunde Training Centre, and also R15 000 from Hollard.

The Runner Up wins R15 000, sponsored by Tracker and a bursary from Masifunde Training Centre worth R27 500. Third place will receive a bursary from Masifunde Training Centre worth R27 500.

Each of the eight apprentices will receive a Samsung tablet with a wireless keyboard (sponsored by Masifunde Training Centre) and a R1 000 Uber voucher (sponsored by Discovery Insure), a book ‘Everything you need to know about non-life insurance in South Africa’, written and sponsored by Gareth Stokes and Liz Still, and amazing business/motivational books sponsored by Insure Group Managers… this rounds it off perfectly.

Proud sponsors of #TIA2019
In showing support here are our #TIA2019 sponsors – thank you for your support and sponsorship:

Platinum
 Inseta

Gold
 Aon South Africa
 Emerald Risk Transfer
 Hollard
 Innovation Group
 Insure Group Managers
 Lloyds of London
 Masifunde Training Centre
 Sasria Soc Ltd
 Marsh Africa

Silver
 Innosys
 Price Forbes
 Constantia Insurance
Bronze
 Chubb
 Discovery Insure
 Hogan Lovells
 Tracker
 Auto & General

We have more sponsors on board for The Insurance Apprentice 2019 – AIG, FNB Insurance Brokers, King Price, Old Mutual Insure, Genasys Technologies and Santam. We will share the details of their involvement soon.

“We would like to thank all the sponsors for supporting The Insurance Apprentice 2019. Your support is appreciated beyond words. Thank you for your commitment in making The Insurance Apprentice 2019 a reality and for assisting FAnews in changing even more lives,” said Whitehead.