Who are we?

Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 24,000 employees spanning over 56 countries.

People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work / life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

Based in our Wexford office, Howden Ireland are delighted to partner with the Atlantic Technological University Sligo and the Insurance Institute of Ireland for the Insurance apprenticeship programme. If you would like to join the apprenticeship programme, we would love to hear from you. Find out more below:

About the Apprenticeship Opportunity

We are looking for ambitious and talented individuals who show the potential to develop into a high performing business professional. This is an apprentice scheme that will allow the successful candidate exposure to all aspects of our business, allowing you to develop your technical expertise as well as professional skills.

While on the programme, in addition to gaining on the job insurance experience, you will complete the insurance industry professional qualifications APA and CIP as well as a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Insurance Practice (Apprenticeship) which is Level 8 on the NFQ awarded by IT Sligo.

The apprenticeship programme is a work-based learning programme and requires timely submission of on-the-job assessments, attendance at and successful attainment of IT Sligo and CIP exams as part of the programme.

When you join Howden, you will be assigned a dedicated business supervisor and mentor to provide support throughout the scheme while always been given on the job continuous training.

We will work with you to become a valuable contributor in the success of our business, developing your own rewarding career in the insurance industry while completing the three-year Level 8 Bachelor’s Degree course. In return, we expect you to bring the commitment and drive to add significant value to the company.

About the Role:

As an apprentice you will gain in-depth knowledge of risks and the insurance market in order to arrange suitable policies & cover for your clients. You will learn how to be an effective intermediary between our clients and insurance companies. Some Responsibilities are noted below:

Gather information from your clients, assessing their insurance needs and risk profile
Research insurance companies’ policies and negotiate with underwriters to find the most suitable insurance for your clients at the best price
Ensure that your clients understand the terms and the extent of the cover provided in line with industry regulations
Foresee your clients’ insurance needs, such as policy renewals or amendments
Advise your clients on whether and when they need to make a claim on their policies
Arrange specialised types of insurance cover in complex cases; this may involve preparing reports for insurance underwriters and surveyors and negotiating with insurers
Advise your clients on risk management and help to devise new ways to mitigate risks, for example, by adding security measures such as fencing, surveillance cameras or lighting to commercial properties to reduce the likelihood of a break-in
Build and maintain ongoing relationships with your clients

The Apprenticeship programme is a work-based learning programme and requires timely submission of on the job assessments, attendance at and successful attainment of ATU Sligo and CIP exams as part of the programme.

About You

When you work in insurance your customers place a lot of trust and responsibility in your hands, so its essential that you have the necessary knowledge and skills to give them peace of mind. Some of the key attributes that the individual should have are:

Ability to communicate effectively (in both written and verbal form)
Eager to learn and want to develop within an exciting industry
Proactive approach to building and managing customer relationships
Ability to prioritise and work under time pressures
Focused, Diligent and committed to the apprenticeship and company
Excellent PC skills - Microsoft Packages
Willing to be part of a team while working independently

If you want to be part of a dynamic work environment while being rewarded for your creativity, innovation and determination, start your career with Howden.

Key Questions asked before applying

Interested individuals should ask themselves the following questions before applying:

Do I meet the minimum entry level requirements? Entry-Requirements-Updated.pdf (iii.ie)
Can I commit to a three-year contract of apprenticeship?
Do I have the self-motivation and time management skills to study at a BA (Hons) level and work at the same time?
Can I take ownership and accountability for my own actions and responsibilities?

Application Process

Please submit your application via our careers page
Planned start date: beginning of August 2026 or sooner if available
Closing date for applications is the 7th of July

About Howden Ireland

Howden Ireland is part of Howden, the global insurance intermediary group, and has over 600 employees across 29 local offices advising clients on their commercial insurance, personal insurance, health insurance, life and pensions and mortgage requirements. Our success is primarily down to the incredible people we employ.

For more information, please visit About Us | Howden Ireland (howdengroup.com)

What do we offer in return?

A career that you define. At Howden, we value diversity – there is no one Howden type. Instead, we’re looking for individuals who share the same values as us:

Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new
We support each other in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges
We are determined to make a positive difference at work and beyond

Reasonable adjustments

We're committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs. Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours* or hybrid working*.

If you're excited by this role but have some doubts about whether it’s the right fit for you, send us your application – if your profile fits the role’s criteria, we will be in touch to assist in helping to get you set up with any reasonable adjustments you may require.

*Not all positions can accommodate changes to working hours or locations. Reach out to your Recruitment Partner if you want to know more.

Fixed Term Contract (Fixed Term)

Insurance Apprenticeship - Portlaoise

Benefits

Job Description