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.
Talent Acquisition Apprenticeship Programme 2027
Please read before submitting: You may only apply to one apprenticeship programme for our 2027 intake. Submitting duplicate applications will result in them not being considered.
Location: London
Start date: January 2027
Salary: £28,000
Duration: You'll join us in a permanent role from day one while completing an 18-month development programme
Structure: You’re expected to work in the office 3-4 days per week and must live within a commutable distance
Qualification: Level 3 HR apprenticeship
Talent Acquisition Apprenticeship Programme
Help Find the Talent Who Will Shape Howden’s Future
Ready to earn, learn and launch your career? This is more than your first job. You’ll gain real experience, work towards a recognised qualification and build skills that will shape your future.
Our Talent Acquisition team partners with business leaders across Howden to attract and recruit the talented people who drive our success. Combining recruitment, marketing and talent strategy, the team promotes career opportunities, assesses candidates and delivers an excellent experience throughout the recruitment journey.
As a Talent Acquisition Apprentice, you’ll gain hands-on experience across the full recruitment process. You’ll help create engaging recruitment campaigns, communicate with candidates and support the team in finding the people who will contribute to Howden’s future growth.
You’ll be placed in one of the following teams:
- Specialised Talent Acquisition: Recruiting experienced professionals into our specialist divisions.
- Early Careers: Supporting the attraction, marketing and recruitment of apprentices, interns and graduates across Howden.
You’ll join Howden on a permanent role and complete an 18-month development programme designed to develop your technical knowledge, professional skills and confidence to kick start your career.
What you’ll be doing?
You will begin with a structured induction before joining our Talent Acquisition team, where you will work alongside experienced colleagues and gradually take on more responsibility.
During the programme, you'll:
- Learn how our Talent Acquisition team partners with hiring managers to understand the skills, experience and capabilities to build high performing teams.
- Support the team in creating clear and engaging job descriptions and recruitment marketing content.
- Arrange interviews and assessment centres by coordinating diaries and confirming availability with candidates and hiring teams.
- Communicate with candidates throughout the recruitment process, collecting information and providing clear updates on their applications.
- Help manage candidate email inboxes and respond to questions professionally and promptly.
- Review first-stage applications and learn how the team identifies candidates with the right skills and potential.
- Learn how to review and assess live and pre-recorded video interviews.
- Conduct market and competitor research and help the team identify key trends and insights.
- Learn how to use the systems and tools that support the recruitment process.
Who are we looking for?
No insurance experience is needed; we’ll teach you everything you need to know!
You'll be:
- Genuinely interested in recruitment and helping people find the right career opportunities.
- A clear and confident communicator who enjoys speaking with different people.
- Friendly, supportive and able to build positive relationships.
- Attentive to detail when reviewing information, arranging interviews and communicating with candidates.
- Organised and able to manage different tasks and priorities.
- Positive, proactive and willing to contribute ideas.
- Curious and eager to learn about Howden, recruitment and the wider insurance industry.
- Comfortable adapting when priorities or circumstances change.
- Resilient and able to stay focused when working in a busy environment.
- Motivated to deliver a positive experience for candidates and colleagues.
To be eligible for our apprenticeship, you must:
- Have the full and unrestricted right to work in the UK.
- Have lived permanently in the UK for the last 3 years.
- Have achieved a grade C/4 in GCSE English and Maths.
- Not already hold a qualification that significantly overlaps with the content of this apprenticeship.
Application process
Our application process is designed to help you show your potential, not to test what you already know!
- Online application form – no CV required: We believe you're more than just a document, so we won’t ask you to submit a CV. Please upload a blank document on the application form.
- Online gamified assessment: We’ve created games that will help us understand your natural strengths and how you approach different situations. There are no right or wrong answers. You can complete this stage on your phone or laptop, whichever suits you best!
- Pre-recorded video interview: You will record your answers to a few questions using your phone or laptop, giving you the chance to tell us more about yourself in your own time in a relaxed setting.
- Assessment centre: Our final stage is an in-person assessment centre at one of our offices. You'll take part in some fun group activities and meet our team in a relaxed setting. This day is all about getting to know you better and for you to see what it's like to be part of Howden and experience our culture. We'll cover all your travel costs for this day, because where you are now, shouldn’t hold back your future!
Why should you apply?
At Howden, people are at the heart of everything we do. As an employee-owned business, we believe success is built through collaboration, learning and supporting one another. You'll gain exposure to an exciting global industry, receive structured development throughout the summer and build relationships that could shape your future career.
You'll also benefit from:
- £28,000 and a generous pension scheme.
- Completing fully funded professional qualifications relevant for your role.
- Structured learning and development through our 18-month apprenticeship development programme.
- 25 days' annual leave, plus bank holidays and an additional day off at Christmas.
- Access to discounted personal health policies, wellbeing support and a range of employee benefits and insurance products.
- 2 days allocated to take part in volunteering schemes.
Ready to apply?
Want to know what life at Howden is really like? Visit our Early Careers hub to explore our culture, learn more about the insurance industry, and get practical tips to help you prepare for our recruitment process. It's also a great way to work out which career path suits you best.
You can also follow our TikTok accounts, @earlycareersjo and @millieinsurancecareers, for behind-the-scenes insights into life at Howden, career advice, and application tips from our Early Careers team.
Please read before submitting: You may only apply to one apprenticeship programme for our 2027 intake. Submitting duplicate applications will result in additional applications not being considered.
#ECApprentice27 #GroupECA27What 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
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.
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