The non-life insurance industry has launched the third iteration of its Retiree Repurposing Programme (RRP), expanding a mentorship initiative aimed at addressing persistent skills shortages in specialist areas of the sector.
The programme, led by the South African Insurance Association (SAIA) in collaboration with the Insurance Sector Training Authority, brings together retired industry professionals and junior to mid-level managers to facilitate skills transfer and knowledge sharing.
It is supported by several industry bodies, including the Insurance Institute of South Africa, the Financial Intermediaries Association of Southern Africa, and the South African Underwriting Managers Association.
This year’s intake includes 50 participants and 25 mentors, marking a significant scale-up from the pilot phase, which involved five mentors and 15 junior managers.
The expansion comes as the non-life insurance sector continues to face shortages in specialised lines of business, including marine, engineering, agricultural crop insurance, reinsurance, and broader technical insurance disciplines.
The RRP is designed to address these gaps by pairing emerging professionals with experienced practitioners who can provide technical guidance, mentorship, and leadership development.
Kabelo Paile, insurance risks manager at SAIA, said the programme is structured to deliver practical outcomes for both mentors and participants.
“The RRP is designed to create a practical, outcomes-based development journey that benefits both mentors and programme participants,” he said.
He added that the initiative is targeted at professionals in the early and middle stages of their careers, with a view to supporting progression into senior roles and more specialised areas of the industry.
“The RRP is aimed to benefit insurance professionals in early or middle stages of their careers and to help position themselves for advancement into senior management or more specialised aspects of insurance,” Paile said.
Beyond technical skills transfer, the programme is intended to support career mobility and adaptability in a changing environment, while enabling retired professionals to remain engaged through mentorship and leadership contributions.
Paile said this approach contributes to expanding the industry’s pool of expertise and strengthening professional networks. It also supports knowledge transfer across different generations and career stages.
“Building on the success and learnings from the first two RRPs, the programme represents a continuing training intervention built around relationship-based development, supported by credible partners, transparent governance and an enabling digital platform,” he said.
The programme is delivered through a cloud-based mentorship platform, Together, which pairs participants for structured development. This is supported by additional learning interventions tailored to individual needs, including soft skills training, leadership development, and technical skills support.
Paile said the objective is for participants to complete the programme with measurable improvements in capability and professional readiness.
“Our goal is that every participant should complete the programme with measurable growth, enhanced practical capabilities, and a stronger professional network,” he said.
