CII Seeking Contestants for 2005 Sheik Abdullah Prize

The U.K.’s Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) announced that it has begun searching for the 2005 Sheikh Abdullah Foundation Young General Insurance Professional of the Year. The award carries a prize of GBP 3,000 ($5340), a trophy and a ticket for the UK Insurance & Financial Services Conference on offer to the winner.

“The award is sponsored by the Sheikh Abdullah Foundation, a registered charity established by Richard Sheikh FCII, Cert PFS, Chartered Insurance Practitioner and chairman and chief executive of Camberford Law plc, Insurance Brokers,” said the CII bulletin.”

It is “designed to recognise the skills, achievements and commitment of young professionals who work in the general insurance market. This will be the second year the award has been made. Last year the CII said it had received 82 entries. James Barwell, a strategic business development manager with AXA Insurance, was chosen by the judging panel as the winner and four other entries were highly commended.”

Entrants to the award must be 30 years old or under at August 31, 2005, be a member of the CII, or have studied toward/completed any of the CII’s general insurance examinations in the last three years.
Sheikh commented: “We need a steady stream of talented, dedicated individuals to enable the general insurance market to prosper. This award is designed to encourage the next generation to build a career in insurance and help to ensure that consumers have confidence in our market”

CII deputy director general Bob Bullivant added: “The number of high quality entries received last year indicates that we can look to the future with confidence. This award is a showcase for the talent young insurance professionals possess and acts as a beacon for others to follow.”

To enter the contest a candidate must provide a written submission not exceeding 1000 words. The CII said: “Judges will look for entries demonstrating commitment to CII qualifications; excellent performance at work; team work, initiative and innovations; and contributions to their own organisation and the industry at large. Each entry must be supported by a company manager or director.”

Entries must be submitted no later than August 19, 2005. Details are available on the CII Website: www.cii.co.uk. For further information contact: Steve Radford, PR manager, CII Tel: 0207 417 4422 Email: steve.radford@cii.co.uk or Kelly Moore, Marketing Executive, Camberford Law plc, Tel: 020 8315 5062, Email: kellym@camberford-law.com.