Aon champions social mobility with award-winning UK work experience programme reaching over 1,500 students

AON has announced that its UK Work Insights Programme, launched in 2023, has now provided work experience to more than 1,500 students. The programme offers placements across eight Aon offices: Bristol, Birmingham, Chelmsford, Farnborough, London, Leeds, Manchester and Glasgow. Aimed at young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds, the programme is designed to expand access to careers in professional and financial services.

Aon has a longstanding commitment to improving access to opportunities for young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds and has worked with early talent specialist Connectr Early Engagement to help remove barriers and ensure a more inclusive pipeline of future talent.

In 2024 alone, more than 840 students enrolled in the programme. Participants came from over 290 schools and colleges across England and Scotland. Of these students, 46 percent were eligible for free school meals or a sixth-form bursary, 76 percent identified as being from an ethnic minority background and 55 percent were from outside London.

The three-day programme is aimed at Year 12 and 13 students from state schools and offers exposure to the workplace by participating in business workshops, networking with current Aon employees and completing a real-world group challenge for which they receive feedback.

To deliver this programme, over 700 Aon colleagues from across the UK have volunteered their time to coach, mentor and inspire participants. Their support has had a positive impact – 36 percent of all new Aon apprentices in 2025 will be alumni of the Work Insights Programme, a figure that the firm aims to double in the coming years.

Feedback from students has been overwhelmingly positive, with 91 percent of participants saying they would recommend the programme to a friend. The initiative has also received industry recognition, winning the 2024 Institute of Student Employers Award for Best Work Experience, Internship or Placement Programme and the 2024 Insurance Times Award for Diversity and Inclusion Excellence.

Jane Kielty, UK CEO at Aon, said: “It’s inspiring to see the difference made in just the first two years of our Work Insights Programme. We’ve seen firsthand the transformational effect of bringing greater numbers of young people into the workplace. Gaining direct exposure to our industry raises aspirations and equips the next generation with the confidence and insight needed to pursue careers in financial and professional services. We’re especially proud that one in 10 of Aon’s UK colleagues have volunteered their time to support the students, championing social mobility and helping Aon to thrive by building a pipeline of high-potential talent.”

Rachel Blake, MP for Cities of London, said: “It was a real pleasure to join Aon last week to welcome students to their Work Insight Programme. It was great to see so many young people proactively engaging with the world of work, and I was encouraged by the work Aon is doing to encourage and maintain a talented and diverse workplace.”