Zurich North America named apprenticeship ambassador

Zurich North America has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) for its apprenticeships. The insurance company, which is headquartered in Schaumburg in the U.S. state of Illinois can now carry the title Apprenticeship Ambassador. The designation is in recognition of the company's exemplary apprenticeship program and its role in helping to modernize, diversify and expand registered apprenticeships across the USA, according to a statement. 

The Department of Labor's Apprenticeship Ambassador initiative is designed to create a national network of employers, labor organizations, industry associations, program sponsors, educators, workforce intermediaries, community-based organizations and other stakeholders to help expand the number of state-registered apprenticeship programs, explains the statement. Launched in 2016, the Zurich Apprenticeship Program was the first Registered Apprenticeship Program in commercial insurance. 

"When we launched our program nearly seven years ago, apprenticeships in the U.S. were largely limited to manufacturing and the trades, and it was difficult for people to launch a career in corporate America without a four-year college degree,” comments Kristof Terryn, CEO of Zurich North America in the statement. He continues that Zurich’s North American business has successfully adapted the apprenticeship model used in Switzerland. 

Zurich North America is part of the Zurich-headquartered Zurich Insurance Group, which serves more than 55 million customers worldwide and has around 56,000 employees.