Aon’s first intake of ‘Launch’ graduates complete two-year program

Sydney, 19 July 2019 –  Aon’s graduate program ‘Launch’ is an initiative to kick start the careers of graduates and equip them with the necessary skills and experience to reach their full potential.

Aon’s inaugural Launch graduates have successfully completed the two-year program. From the original eight that joined in 2017, six have secured permanent positions at the leading global professional services firm.

The Launch graduate program is a cross-Aon initiative that provides a continuous stream of talent to help drive future growth and complement existing initiatives to grow talent. During the program, graduates work across four different business units, each for six months. This includes one rotation outside their ‘home’ business unit, for example a Commercial Risk Solutions grad will rotate to either Reinsurance or Retirement Solutions for six months and vice versa.  

Throughout the program, all grads have opportunities to tackle real business challenges, work collaboratively and build relationships across the organisation.  It’s designed to help develop future leaders, rather than simply providing the basic on-the-job training required to perform a role.

Hannah, who recently secured a permanent role in the Reinsurance Solutions business, commented “My experience can be summarised by one word – exposure. Everything I have learnt during this time can be attributed to my exposure to colleagues, exposure to clients, exposure to the wider Aon network, exposure to the insurance/reinsurance market, exposure to global colleagues, clients and industry professionals. The absolute highlight was the responsibility that was given to me during my time in Reinsurance. The adrenalin and sense of achievement I felt being able to deliver a post renewal report to one of our largest clients is something I will never forget.” 

The program injects high potential talent with fresh perspectives and diversity of thought as well as skills across our business and it achieved gender balance in relation to all participants in 2018. The first intake joined Sydney office, however the latest 2019 intake graduates have joined in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

“The whole graduate experience has been wonderful and such a great springboard for my career”, said Carol, who joined the M&A and Transactions Solutions team. “It was challenging at times, having to adjust to various working styles, but it was extremely rewarding and provided such a great insight to the world of risk, consulting and insurance. There have been many highlights, some of which include forming such a great group of friends, but I think personally, it was finding a line of work with my current team that I had never heard about before but became very passionate about.” 

Following the successful launch in 2017, Aon welcomed an additional seven graduates in February 2018 and another nine graduates in February 2019.

The program participants had a relevant degree with evidence of strong academic performance (a credit average or above). Graduates who secured places on the program have demonstrated leadership qualities and experience in work and extra-curricular activities.

James Baum, CEO Aon Australia commented: “The Launch graduate program has really strengthened our employment brand in the market and enabled us to take a structured approach to refreshing our talent pool. As a business we are being challenged more than ever to provide innovative solutions to the ever-changing risk needs of our clients. To ensure we are best placed to serve those changing needs the generation of a diverse talent pipeline is critical. By bringing people into our business fresh from university we have the opportunity to not only equip them with the skills that can set them on the road to a successful career but bring their new experiences and blend them with the experiences that already exist for the benefit of our clients.  We are absolutely thrilled with the recent hires from the first intake and we are looking forward to continued success.”

Aon’s post-implementation review feedback sessions, which are currently underway, are demonstrating great support for the program, the success of it and the high calibre of the graduates themselves.

The graduates have become great connectors for the business. They gained a unique perspective by moving around the business and were able to connect colleagues across functions and business lines.

“This program is not for the faint-hearted. It means getting used to four different managers, four different teams and four different workflows in the space of 24 months. It also means being 'the new person' four times over and having to start again from scratch every time you were just feeling settled. At the same time, the program is a fantastic opportunity to have your mind stretched, your skills sharpened, and your knowledge vastly expanded. The program offers a unique helicopter view of Aon that comes with enormous advantages – the ability to draw linkages between teams, apply knowledge from one field to something completely unrelated, and build a network of connections that spans the entire business.

One of the biggest highlights to this program is the amount of time and effort people pour into helping 'the grads' make the most of the opportunity. The inclusivity that you feel right from the start, coupled with the company's non-hierarchical culture, means it's hard to imagine the days before you were part of team Aon.” – Sophie, Aon Launch graduate

Aon will open applications for the 2020 Launch graduate program in late August / early September 2019.

For more information about Aon’s graduate program Launch, visit www.aoncareers.com.au/aon-graduates-programme.

Or for other career opportunities at Aon, visit www.aoncareers.com.au.

About Aon

Aon plc (NYSE:AON) is a leading global provider of risk management, insurance brokerage and reinsurance brokerage, and human resources solutions and outsourcing services. Through its more than 69,000 colleagues worldwide, Aon unites to empower results for clients in over 120 countries via innovative risk and people solutions. For further information on our capabilities and to learn how we empower results for clients, please visit: http://aon.mediaroom.com/