The Etana Academy

We all know the old sayings “you’re never too old to learn” and “there’s always more to learn”. Well, now learn the new saying: “All the skills you need to ensure your business has the upper hand in the market can be picked up right here at the Etana Academy!”.

The Academy was founded in early 2009 to help Etanans and our broker network develop the skills we need to deliver superior insurance solutions to businesses across South Africa.

We’re one of the only in-house insurance training providers accREDited by the insurance sector education and training authority (Inseta) to provide broker training, which means cREDits earned accumulate towards a nationally-recognised, transferable qualification.

For us, training is all about knowledge transfer aimed at bringing about a positive change in attitude and behaviour and, ultimately, an improved bottom line. We aim to provide training that results in improved productivity, creativity and innovation. 

Training is not Etana product-specific. Rather, the Academy’s focus is on teaching insurance while exposing our team and our brokers to the Etana brand and our unique ethos.

From assistance with FAIS preparation and specific skills training, to personal development seminars and motivational sessions, the Etana Academy offers a one-stop training and development resource covering a wide range of topics. We’ll even help you find suitable courses to fit in with the needs of your business!

Why the Academy was established

The Academy developed from within, combining the wealth of knowledge of experienced Etanans (with up to 40 years experience!) with the energy and techno-savvy of younger Etanans. As we started to realise the benefits of this knowledge-sharing model, we decided to expand the Academy’s scope to include our brokers, allowing them to reap the benefits as well.

Skills development is a vital starting point in tackling the challenges facing our nation and our industry. We strongly believe corporate SA should be proactive in addressing the skills shortage in the country. More skills lead to a more competent workforce which, in turn, develops superior products and delivers excellent service.

Training can also help us to comply with the law. In many instances, companies in the industry are legally obliged to provide a certain amount of training to their teams. The Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act (FAIS) is one piece of legislation that sets out mandatory training requirements. It’s not advisable to flout FAIS, yet there are companies who do so, for one reason or another.

At Etana we have incorporated FAIS and other legally-requiRED training into our line-up to ensure you and your team don’t land up in hot water.

Every Etanan who wrote the FAIS examinations in 2009 passed, thanks to the Academy’s help.  The majority were mature Etanans who had not been in a classroom environment for many years. Etana is exceptionally proud of their achievements!

Academy cREDentials

The Academy is headed by Fatima Maharaj, an Associate of the Insurance Industry, with more than ten years’ insurance experience, broker and insurance company.  Having worked “in the trenches” has proved to be a huge advantage in the training environment.

Academy experts

Etana has close relationships with the Insurance Institute of South Africa (IISA), Inseta, the Hollard Academy, external service providers and a network of training and development professionals, among others.

Lecturers are drawn from external and internal sources, and include

Brian Martin, the short-term ombudsman

Fred Wilke, an internal expert with more than 40 years’ experience

Frank Ponnen, a leading marine insurance authority

Inseta accREDitation unit standards

The Etana Academy is an Inseta-accREDited learning provider, offering training and accREDitation for the following unit standards:

• Demonstrate knowledge of insurable risk (SAQA ID 120124)
• Apply customer care skills in a specific work environment (SAQA ID 119676)
• Apply knowledge of short-term insurance to reinsurance (SAQA ID 120136)
• Process a short-term insurance claim (SAQA ID 120123)
• Apply knowledge and insight into the Short Term Insurance Act (No 53 of 1998) and the accompanying regulations (SAQA ID 117121)
• Explain trade in a global economy (SAQA ID 119899)
• Underwrite a standard risk in short-term commercial insurance (SAQA ID 120110)
• Apply knowledge of business interruption insurance (SAQA ID 120120)
• Demonstrate knowledge of insurable risk (SAQA ID 120124)
• Apply knowledge of public liability insurance (SAQA ID 120125)

We’re adding more modules ongoing, and soon learners will be able to obtain nationally recognised, transferable cREDits and ultimately an Etana Insurance Qualification – or an EQ.

We are currently able to offer training and provide credits on the following unit standards:
Module 1:

• Apply knowledge and insight into the Short Term Insurance Act (No 53 of 1998) and the accompanying regulations (SAQA ID 117121)
• Explain trade in a global economy (SAQA ID 119899)
• Underwrite a standard risk in short term commercial insurance (SAQA ID 120110)
• Apply knowledge of business interruption insurance (SAQA ID 120120)
• Apply knowledge of public liability insurance (SAQA ID 120125)

Module 2:

• Demonstrate knowledge of insurable risk (SAQA ID 120124)
• Apply the skills of customer care in a specific work environment (SAQA ID 119676)
• Apply knowledge of Short Term Insurance to reinsurance (SAQA ID 120136)
• Process a short term insurance claim (SAQA ID 120123)

Cost

Standard training is offeRED to Etanans and Etana brokers and partners free of charge.

Location

Academy training is available at Etana offices throughout South Africa.

Schedule

Click to download the Etana Academy schedule.

The Academy is geaRED towards offering training that Etanans and brokers need. If there’s enough demand for a particular subject that we don’t already cover, special requests will be consideRED.

Bookings

To book…

• Get in touch with your broker consultant or Etana branch manager

OR

• Contact Fatima on 011 351 2542 / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to discuss your specific training requirements

What they’re saying out there…

The response to Etana Academy training sessions has been both enthusiastic and positive. These are some of the responses received from attendees at 2009 and 2010 events:

“Thank you so much for such an awesome and very educative experience at the training academy. It was worth every minute of it. We eagerly await the next semester.” – Joseph Museva, CC&A Insurance Brokers

“As you know, we only deal with one insurer and spending time in your organisation and seeing the professionalism of your staff members confirms that we are backing the number one insurer in the market.” – Roscoe Millar, Barker Insurance Brokers

“It was a real privilege and honour for me to represent Accensure at the first Etana Broker Academy. As brokers we believe there is a great need in the industry for this (training) and we are pleased Etana has taken the initiative. The programme was very well organised and there was a high calibre of speakers, each of whom was obviously very well versed in their chosen subject. In most cases a real eye-opener when one is afforded the opportunity to walk in the shoes of the insurer, ombudsman or loss adjuster. The combination of theoretical, practical and interactive classes was excellent.” – Cavin Daniels, Accensure Insurance Brokers

Says Fatima Maharaj, Etana’s head of training and development:

“Etana’s guiding philosophies – which we truly believe and live by – clearly show that our people set us apart from the competition. We attach great value to our team, which is why we have adopted a creative, self-driven approach to training and development. We encourage Etanans to determine their own skills requirements, with strong guidance from management and the T&D team of course. We then draw up individual plans to help them reach their development goals.

“The same holds true for our brokers. We are always available to help assess needs and recommend training solutions to address any gaps.”