Wiser Academy Partners With Oakleafe on Loss Assessor Training

The latest news from the Wiser Academy, the award-winning provider of insurance training and development, who have partnered with Oakleafe to launch Oakleafe Academy, a training programme designed to develop the next generation of loss assessors and claims professionals.

Lucy Croucher, Head Of Talent at Oakleafe states “With the industry facing significant challenges in attracting fresh talent, and with many experienced professionals retiring and taking decades of expertise with them, the Academy is designed to inject fresh talent into the industry by providing a structured, hands-on training pathway, equipping newcomers with essential skills, industry-recognised qualifications, and real-world experience from day one”.

Closing the skills gap

Without urgent investment in new talent, the industry risks a widening skills gap, an over-reliance on outdated processes, and a decline in service quality — issues that could ultimately impact businesses and policyholders alike.

Unlike many training schemes that rely solely on remote learning, Oakleafe Academy prioritises face-to-face, practical training. Trainees will work alongside experienced professionals in real-life claims environments while earning the Cert CILA and BDMA qualifications, recognised as gold standards in claims management. Upon successful completion, graduates are guaranteed a full-time role at Oakleafe Claims as Property Claims Technicians.

The programme offers a fast-track training pathway, enabling participants to gain three industry-recognised accreditations within just 15 months — a process that would typically take five to ten years. By embedding trainees within real working environments, the Academy ensures they gain not just theoretical knowledge, but essential hands-on experience, preparing them for the demands of the profession.

Lee Goodwin, C.E.O at Oakleafe, said: “Loss assessing is a practical profession — you can’t learn it by sitting in front of a screen. Our trainees will be in the field from day one, learning directly from experienced professionals, shadowing real claims, and developing the resilience and expertise required to excel.”

Lily-Rose Hopgood-Smith, who leads the Claims Academy programme at Wiser Academy, said: “By investing in new talent, we are not only securing the future of the profession but also ensuring that knowledge, skills, and best practices are passed down for generations to come.”

The initiative also addresses another longstanding issue — diversity within the sector. The programme has already welcomed its first female trainee into what has traditionally been a male-dominated field, demonstrating Oakleafe Academy’s commitment to building a more inclusive workforce.

The first intake has already begun, with candidates currently undergoing training. Future expansion plans include rolling the programme out across multiple departments, ensuring that the entire business benefits from a new generation of skilled professionals.