CII tightens chartered criteria

After being introduced in 2007 to provide a gold standard for insurance brokers, the corporate Chartered Broker scheme has been amended to now require firms to be more proactive regarding their professional development programmes. They must also now nominate a board member with an individual Chartered Insurance Broker title to ensure compliance with the CII's rules.

Alasdair Stewart, head of business development at the CII, told PB: "We have tried to make qualifying more inclusive. We have moved the focus to include staff development qualifications; it is not only about the guys at the top. The customer-facing side is where the difference is and 'chartered' is stronger than any other word in the public's mind: we are putting far more effort into marketing it." This marketing effort has so far included setting up a database with all chartered members and providing marketing material for clients to explain the meaning of chartered status.

Weighty burden

So far, 60 brokers have become chartered members, although Stewart admits that seeking this status could prove a big commitment for some in today's challenging economic environment. The Broking Faculty Board is fully behind the move and chairman Mark Radburn (also managing director at Willis Commercial Network) commented: "We believe many broking firms will apply for chartered status as a means of standing out from the crowd, gaining new customers and improving profitability."

Meanwhile, the 2,500th individual to gain chartered status has been confirmed. Jenny Ellis, director of market security and carrier management at Willis, said she was pleased to be recognised by the CII and that she would devote approximately four days a year to keeping her professional development scheme up to date.