McClarrons recently welcomed its first cohort of Future Professionals, launching a new six-month programme designed to give 18-25 year olds the opportunity to begin a professional career in insurance.

The programme combines hands-on experience within the business with structured learning, workshops and independent study, while supporting participants as they work towards their Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) qualification.

The Programme So Far

The first few weeks have given the Future Professionals time to settle into the team, meet colleagues across the business and gain a broad introduction to McClarrons and the insurance industry. Through a combination of structured sessions, shadowing and practical learning, they have spent time with different teams to understand how each area of the business works and the role they play in supporting our clients.

We caught up with Harry, Ava, Ethan and Ben to find out how they have settled into life at McClarrons, what they have experienced so far and what they are hoping to achieve over the coming months.

Meet Harry

Before joining the programme, Harry had recently completed his master’s in politics and was working in hospitality in York while looking for his next opportunity. Having previously done work experience within the insurance sector, Harry already knew that he wanted to pursue a career in the industry.

Commenting on the programme, Harry said: “The programme got my attention because of the friendly company ethos and the opportunity to begin my insurance qualifications.” The focus on professional development and industry training was particularly important to Harry, as he was looking for somewhere he could build a strong foundation in insurance while continuing to develop his knowledge and skills.

Harry added: “One of the biggest surprises has been how open and sociable the office is; you can talk to or ask anyone anything without worry for judgement, regardless of their role or how busy they are.” Looking ahead, Harry hopes to complete the programme as a confident Future Professional and become a valued and reliable member of the team.

Outside of work, Harry enjoys keeping active through running and going to the gym, as well as watching as many Aston Villa games as possible.

For anyone considering applying to the programme, Harry said: “Go for it – no better place to get a start as a young professional in a caring and supportive environment.”

Meet Ava

After completing her A Levels, Ava decided to take a gap year, working in a hotel and a shop before travelling for three months. When she returned home, she was looking for an opportunity that could lead into a longer-term career.

Although she had never previously considered working in insurance, the Future Professionals Programme caught her attention, particularly the opportunity to spend six months learning and developing rather than being thrown straight into a role she had never experienced before.

Commenting on the process, Ava said: “McClarrons’ values and company ethos stood out during the recruitment process. I also noticed how positively employees spoke about working at McClarrons and their excitement for the new programme.”

The biggest surprise for Ava has been how at ease she has felt coming into work each day. Ava added: “I have also enjoyed seeing how collaborative the business is, with colleagues always willing to help each other and answer questions.” Over the course of the programme, Ava hopes to build her confidence, develop new skills and knowledge, and discover which area of McClarrons she would most like to pursue as a career.

Outside of work, Ava enjoys spending time with friends, going on holiday and enjoying days out. She also enjoys cooking and baking.

For anyone thinking about applying, Ava said: “Just do it – there’s nothing to be nervous about, and it’s a great opportunity to start something exciting and enjoyable.”

Meet Ethan

Ethan joined McClarrons after graduating from university with a degree in Maths. He was particularly interested in the Future Professionals Programme because he wanted to move into the financial sector while working in a role involving client relationships.

The locality of McClarrons was an important factor, as he saw the opportunity to build a long-term career with a business based in the area. Ethan added: “I was also attracted to the structure of the programme; it combines classroom learning and workshops with early exposure to the office and practical experience.”

Ethan commented: “The biggest surprise for me so far has been how supportive every single member of staff is. Everybody is constantly checking in and making sure you are doing okay.” Over the next six months, Ethan hopes to build a solid foundation of insurance knowledge, develop his interpersonal skills and make a strong start to his career.

Outside of work, Ethan enjoys playing golf and watching football.

For anyone considering applying to the programme, Ethan would highly recommend taking the opportunity: “I would highly recommend the programme. If you’re even considering applying, you’ve done the hard part – just apply!”

Meet Ben

After finishing university in summer 2025, Ben was working at his local supermarket while figuring out what he wanted to do next. Describing this period as his “graduation limbo”, Ben was still unsure which career path he wanted to pursue when he came across the Future Professionals Programme.

Ben first heard about the programme through graduate job opportunities shared by his university. The look and feel of the programme’s webpage initially caught his attention, with Ben describing a “generous and friendly feel” to the company. After doing some further research, including looking at McClarrons’ website and Google Reviews, he found that this impression appeared to reflect the wider business. As Ben explains, “Having a positive brand image is one thing, but practising what you preach is another, and McClarrons seemed to do that from everything that I could find.”

The programme’s focus on people with little or no previous experience was also a key attraction for Ben. Ben said: “The graduation job hunt is quite daunting currently, and a big part of why it’s so tricky is the fact that we have so little experience”.

“I’m mainly looking for experience and to learn and develop as much as possible. From what I’ve seen so far, the McClarrons team have definitely welcomed that and have tried to enable it as much as possible.” Ben hopes to continue learning and developing, with the aim of finding a career where he can make a positive difference day to day.

Outside of work, Ben supports Hull City and enjoys attending matches, as well as listening to music, collecting records, going to concerts and keeping fit.

For anyone considering applying to the programme, Ben’s advice is: “Just go for it. It’s getting increasingly difficult to get that initial experience under your belt, and McClarrons are giving you that opportunity with open arms. From the first day, you feel genuinely valued, and as someone coming out of university who wanted that first step, it’s felt like exactly what I needed so far.”

Looking Ahead

The Future Professionals are still at the beginning of their six-month journey. Over the coming months, they will continue to combine practical experience with structured learning and revision as they work towards their CII qualification. They will also continue gaining experience across different areas of the business, helping them develop their knowledge and understand where their interests and strengths could lead them.

We are delighted to welcome Harry, Ava, Ethan and Ben as our first Future Professionals and look forward to seeing how they develop throughout the programme and, help us to develop the programme for 2027.

If you would like to learn more about the opportunity, you can visit our Future Professionals Programme webpage, where you can also register your interest in our 2027 cohort.