Aon offers Philly youth $44K apprenticeships, free college
PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES — Global professional services firm Aon introduced an apprenticeship program targeting high school graduates in Philadelphia.
This initiative, now in its third year, is designed to offer young individuals a direct path to both a career in the corporate world and higher education.
Through collaborations with the Philadelphia Apprentice Network and Summer Search, Aon’s apprenticeship program aims to equip local youth with the necessary skills, education, and opportunities to succeed professionally.
The program provides participants with a full-time role at Aon’s corporate offices and a scholarship for an associate’s degree from either the Community College of Philadelphia or Montgomery County Community College.
Apprentices also benefit from a comprehensive package that includes a yearly salary of $44,000, health insurance, paid time off, retirement benefits, and up to $7,000 in tuition, fees, and book coverage.
The program expects the students to commit to a 40-hour workweek at Aon in addition to their college coursework. While Aon pays for class attendance, it does not compensate for study time or homework.
Qualified individuals must have a high school diploma or its equivalent or alternatively track to graduate high school by June. However, anyone who already holds a bachelor’s degree or requires a work visa is not eligible.
Prospective applicants have until March 1 to apply for the program, which starts on August 1.
Aon Managing Principal of Risk Services Marc Armstrong discussed the importance of nurturing diverse talent to address client needs in risk, health, and retirement sectors.
“At the end of the day, we work with clients around those issues of risk, health, and retirement. So we’re basically in the problem-solving business. “[To do that] You need diversity of thought, gender, age, and background. Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not.”
Armstrong also shared his hopes that more businesses would borrow Aon’s model for apprenticeship in white-collar jobs.
Offering a salary above the median for young earners in Philadelphia, the program not only provides a competitive edge but also a clear path for career progression.
