The insurance sector faces a widening AI skills gap as firms adopt machine learning and automation faster than staff can apply them responsibly. BIBA and insurer Markel have launched a Broker AI Academy to give brokers hands-on, role-specific training that turns AI awareness into usable capability. This initiative offers a template for financial services teams planning structured, practical upskilling.
Addressing the urgent need for AI fluency
Reports from industry bodies such as the Chartered Insurance Institute highlight a mismatch: demand for AI competence is rising while many broker teams lack practical experience. That gap raises operational and regulatory risks, from misapplied models to weak client advice. The priority is equipping practitioners with the ability to evaluate tools, ask the right governance questions, and apply AI in customer-facing workflows rather than focusing only on theoretical knowledge.
The BIBA and Markel Broker AI Academy: a blueprint for training
The Academy runs an initial two-day in-person programme combining practical workshops, live case studies, and sessions from industry speakers. Content targets everyday broker use cases such as policy analysis, data handling, and customer communication supported by AI. The roll-out is phased: a founding cohort to test curriculum, a self-serve digital offering for broader reach, and an alumni stream for ongoing learning and peer exchange. The programme was developed in collaboration with brokers so the syllabus aligns with real operational needs and compliance expectations.
Broader industry impact and outlook
Beyond the UK context, this model shows how partnerships between trade associations and insurers can create scalable learning pathways for financial services. It complements government and market-level pushes for workforce development, including city skills initiatives. Structured, practice-focused programmes reduce the risk of fragmented adoption and help organisations build internal standards for responsible AI use. For finance leaders, the lesson is clear: targeted, phased training backed by industry collaboration is an effective route to closing the AI capability gap and maintaining client trust as AI becomes embedded in core services.
