Education Fund
Educational support for everyone
Education has been part of the core mission of the WCI’s philanthropic work from its foundation.
The Livery movement’s support for education and the promotion of professionalism has deep historic roots. Many of the older Livery Companies have their own schools and have played – and still play – a key role in setting and maintaining high standards within their associated crafts and professions.
The Education Fund's legal objects, established at the time of the WCI’s foundation, permit it to make grants to assist those who work, or would like to work, in the insurance industry. Grants may also be made to support those who wish to enter other professions, but not for more general educational purposes.
Recent grants made by the Fund have in particular supported teenagers at schools in deprived London Boroughs who are interested in a City career as well as promoting quality and professionalism among those in the early stages of their insurance careers.
The Fund currently supports the following organisations, scholarships and other projects:
Computers for Schools
The education of all children has been severely disrupted during the pandemic but the less advantaged have suffered more acutely than others because of a lack of access to laptops and technology.
The WCI has collaborated with a wide range of industry organisations to tackle this acute problem. Individuals and firms have donated either technology – new or used – or money. Any cash donated has been used to purchase reconditioned technology.
The WCI is delighted to be leading this project with the support of the Association of British Insurers, International Underwriting Association, Managing General Agents' Association, Lloyd's, Chartered Insurance Institute, British Insurance Brokers' Association and the Lloyd's Market Association.
The scheme is still open and further details of how to donate and what sort of equipment is needed can be found on the Computers for Schools page
Our Bayes Business School Scholars
The Worshipful Company of Insurers and Bayes Business School (formerly the Cass Business School) established a scholarship scheme in 2018 for students taking the MSc in Insurance and Risk Management at the School. Under the scheme, every year two students have their fees met in full.
Scholars are expected to be drawn from areas of the UK considered to be relatively lacking in educational opportunity and they must also be able to demonstrate financial need. They will probably have attended schools in the state sector. They will have been active in their local community, and be able to explain how the MSc will complement their career plans.
The MSc is largely a taught course, although it includes a dissertation requirement. It provides significant credits towards the ACII – the core insurance qualification assessed by the Chartered Insurance Institute. The MSc dissertation can be accepted by the CII as fulfilling the academic requirements for progress to the FCII. This degree also gains some exemptions from the requirements of the Institute of Risk Management qualifications. The MSc will provide a significant differentiator for graduates when applying for roles in insurance and risk management.
Entry to the MSc requires a 2:1at first degree level. Those wishing to be considered for sponsorship should first apply to the WCI using the application form. Successful applicants will also need to apply to the Bayes Business School following the standard procedure before the sponsorship can be confirmed, although it is intended that the scholarship application process will remove most of the uncertainty from this stage.
The Application Form for the Scholarship can be found here.
Bayes Business School WCI Sponsorship form
Useful links
MSc Scholarships at Bayes Business School
Livery schools Link
Bringing Livery and Schools Together
Encouraging, inspiring and motivating students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, can be life changing. It can help to boost their confidence, remove any pre-conceived barriers that they have, as well as help them achieve their life ambitions and enhance their career prospects.
Giving up even just a small amount of your time could have a major impact on a student’s life.
The WCI has signed up with Livery Schools Link to offer our Liverymen and Freemen the opportunity to register their interest in volunteering to visit schools across London in order to inspire students. Only a small amount of time is needed to make an impact to a student’s life, and we encourage you to do so by providing career and motivational talks.
To find out more and register your interest in this important programme helping to inspire and motivate students, please go to www.liveryschoolslink.org.uk.
We encourage members to sign up to this programme to help individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds achieve their full potential.
If you have any queries, please email: clerk@wci.org.uk
If you would like to find out more about our membership please click here.
Further information on membership can be obtained from the Clerk to the Company at