Senior managers in the insurance broker industry are to be given additional training to boost their skills.
The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) Broker Academy believes bosses at smaller firms in particular need to be able to motivate their employees and be aware of issues such as the importance of business planning.
It is therefore taking action to tackle what many of its members believe is a significant skills gap across the sector.
A series of training events designed to help senior regional brokers develop their businesses are to be piloted in Leeds and London over a five-month period.
Strategy and business planning will be among the issues on the agenda, along with defining the role of a leader and building a successful team.
"Seven out of ten acknowledge they have a current skills shortage within their organisation," said Alasdair Stewart, head of business development at the CII.
He added that this skills gap is not specific to the insurance industry, as the government is reviewing skills, qualifications and funding systems in a wide variety of sectors.
However, Mr Stewart noted that insurance brokers are largely unaware of what government funding is available to help them boost the level of skills in their companies.
"There is a bewildering variety of skills initiatives currently available, much of it benefiting from subsidies," he stated.
Brokers will only be asked to contribute about a third of the actual cost of the training, as it will be part-funded by the government's Train to Gain scheme.
A recent survey by the Learning and Skills Council found that more than nine out of ten employers and students are pleased with the initiative.
The poll also showed that nearly three-quarters of company bosses believe the Train to Gain scheme has improved the performance and skills of workers.
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