Oct 31, 2024
Corporate
Group 1001 Leverages Apprenticeships to Attract Tech Talent
Group 1001 and Franklin Skills Partnership
One year ago, Group 1001 and Franklin Skills (formerly Franklin Apprenticeship) partnered to launch Group 1001’s first apprenticeship program. This program provides employees with on-the-job tech training under the supervision of skilled IT managers and mentors and customized instruction that aligns directly with their jobs.
Working with Franklin Skills, Group 1001 tailored the program to address the unique needs of both the company and the apprentices. Integrating apprentices into the existing teams required some adaptation from managers but the results were positive. The five apprentices entered the program with zero to minimal IT experience but were working on projects that typically require years of experience to master.
Five apprentices graduated from Group 1001’s program in September 2024. When asked how the program impacted them, several stated it had been "life changing.”
“By partnering with Franklin Skills, we're not just building a pipeline of well-trained tech talent—we're also investing in people and making a lasting impact,” said Jayne Korowski, Chief Human Resources Officer at Group 1001. “The five apprentices are extremely engaged and have consistently exceeded expectations. We’re looking forward to building on our partnership with Franklin Skills.”
Group 1001’s Approach
Group 1001's approach to apprenticeships showcases the benefits of customized learning programs. By adapting the curriculum to align with their specific processes, Group 1001 managers enabled apprentices to reach productivity faster. This tailored approach also allowed apprentices to dive into real-life projects.
The apprenticeship program benefited both parties. For Group 1001, the program introduced the organization to a skilled, diverse talent pool in an area where recruiting is challenging. For Franklin Skills, the collaboration created opportunities to help individuals find long-term careers, as well as mentors and coaches.
The Broader Impact
The success of Group 1001's apprenticeship program highlights a potential solution to the broader skills gap in the tech industry. By providing hands-on training and real-world experience, apprenticeships offer several advantages:
Practical skill development - Apprentices gain directly applicable skills, reducing the learning curve when entering the workforce.
Diversity and inclusion - Apprenticeships open doors for individuals from diverse backgrounds who may not have traditional educational pathways into tech careers.
Cost-effective talent pipeline - Apprenticeships offer a cost-effective way to train talent from within, reducing recruitment and training costs in the long run.
Improved employee retention - The investment in apprentices often leads to higher loyalty and longer-term employment.
Innovation and fresh perspectives - Apprentices bring fresh ideas and approaches, potentially leading to process improvements.
For companies like Group 1001, apprenticeships are more than a stopgap measure—they're a strategic approach to building a skilled, diverse, and loyal workforce. Apprenticeships offer a practical bridge between education and employment, ensuring that the workforce of tomorrow is equipped with the skills needed to drive innovation and growth in the tech industry and beyond.
Dec 11, 2024
Corporate
S&P Upgrades Delaware Life Insurance Company Financial Strength and Issuer Credit Rating to A- with Stable Outlook
Delaware Life Insurance Company (“Delaware Life”), a Group 1001 Insurance company, today announced that S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”) has upgraded its issuer credit and financial strength rating from BBB+ to A- with a stable outlook.
Delaware Life’s upgraded S&P rating was assigned based on several factors cite...
Nov 15, 2024
Corporate
Employees Participate in Nasdaq Closing Bell
This week, employees attended the Nasdaq Closing Bell to celebrate the recent launch of Delaware Life's select Fixed Indexed Annuity products featuring the innovative Nasdaq-100 Volatility Control 12%™ Index. We are proud to be a Nasdaq partner. Learn more about how our annuities can help you power your retirement...
Nov 7, 2024
Corporate
Group 1001 Welcomes Tony Marichal as Vice President of Annuity Operations
Group 1001, a leading financial services company, announces Tony Marichal as Vice President of Annuity Operations of Group 1001 Life & Annuity.
Reporting to Chief Operating Officer Martin Woll, Marichal oversees the annuity operations for two Group 1001 companies, Delaware Life Insurance Company and Clear Spring Lif...
Oct 21, 2024
Corporate
Gainbridge® and RetireOne® Partner to Offer Innovative Annuity Products to Registered Investment Advisors
Gainbridge®, through its Group 1001 affiliate, announced today a partnership with RetireOne, the leading independent platform in the annuity marketplace for registered investment advisors (RIAs). RetireOne, an outsourced insurance desk, provides RIAs and their customers valuable solutions that are simple to use, easy t...
Oct 7, 2024
Corporate
Group 1001 Announces Chief Risk Officer and Chief Internal Audit Officer Appointments
Group 1001 announces that Dan Healy has been appointed the Chief Risk Officer, Group 1001, and Mark McCallister has been promoted and will succeed Dan as Chief Internal Audit Officer.
Healy has been with Group 1001 for more than nine years and has been acting as the interim Chief Risk Officer for the Life & Annuity...
Aug 16, 2024
Corporate
Delaware Life Accelerator Prime® Variable Annuity Named to Barron’s 2024 List of Top 100 Annuities for Fifth Consecutive Year
Delaware Life Insurance Company, a Group 1001 company, announces its inclusion in the annual Barron’s list of “Top 100 Best Annuities.” This is the fifth consecutive year that Barron's has ranked Delaware Life Insurance Company annuities in the top 100.
Delaware Life Accelerator Prime® Variable Annuity was recogni...
Jul 24, 2024
Corporate
Group 1001 Wins Business Insurance Community Outreach Project of the Year
Group 1001 has won the 2024 U.S. Insurance Award for Community Outreach Project of the Year – Pro Bono and Volunteer for 1001 Hours of Impact.
This award from Business Insurance recognizes a community outreach project in 2023 by an organization operating in the commercial insurance and risk management sector that invol...
Jul 11, 2024
Corporate
Delaware Life Insurance Company Recognized as a 2024 Ward’s Top 50® Life-Health Company
Delaware Life Insurance Company, a Group 1001 company, has been named a Ward’s 50® top-performing life-health company for 2024. This placement positions Delaware Life Insurance Company in the top 50 of more than 700 life-health insurance companies for outstanding financial results in the areas of safety, consistency, a...
Jun 25, 2024
Corporate
Group 1001 Names Martin Woll as Chief Operating Officer
Group 1001, a leading financial services company, announces Martin Woll as Chief Operating Officer of Group 1001 Life & Annuity. A member of the executive leadership team and reporting to Group 1001’s President and CEO, Woll will lead the operations team, including the client experience, facilities, and corporate r...
Jun 20, 2024
Corporate
Annuity Myths and Truths
By Dale Uthoff, Chief Product Officer, Group 1001 Life and Annuity
June is National Annuity Awareness Month. Annuities can offer flexibility both in how you save for and receive money in retirement. It comes down to knowing that there are different types of annuities, each designed to address a specific need or life sta...
May 21, 2024
Corporate
Delaware Life Announces Enhancements to Fixed Index Annuities, Bringing Innovation and Diversification Including the Invesco QQQ ETF
To give consumers a simple, tailored way to diversify returns and guarantee higher minimum growth, Delaware Life Insurance Company (Delaware Life), a Group 1001 company, announces the addition of two diversified, multi-strategy Precision Portfolios as part of the Growth Pathway fixed index annuity (FIA). As an addition...
Apr 15, 2024
Corporate
New Savings Program Offers Higher APY by Combining Market Returns with a Guaranteed Yield
Gainbridge®, a Group 1001 company, and Save®Advisers, LLC, a technology and wealth management company, announced the launch of Market+ to address the needs of savers who want market participation with a minimum guaranteed return.
Market+ offers a hybrid yield structure, featuring a 3% guaranteed annual yield (returned i...
Apr 11, 2024
Sponsorship
Corporate
DUPR and Delaware Life Team Up to Fuel Growth of Pickleball
Delaware Life Insurance Company (“Delaware Life”), a Group 1001 company and a leader in annuity and life insurance products, and DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating), today announced a long-term partnership dedicated to driving growth and innovation in pickleball.
Under the agreement, Delaware Life is the exclusi...
Mar 25, 2024
Corporate
Delaware Life Insurance Company Launches Innovative Fixed Index Annuity with Premium Bonus: PrimeStart Bonus 10SM
WALTHAM, Mass., March 25, 2024 - Delaware Life Insurance Company ("Delaware Life") has launched an innovative, flexible-premium fixed index annuity featuring a premium bonus. PrimeStart Bonus 10SM offers an exclusive trifecta of features combining the power of a 10% premium bonus, interest crediting that’s ba...
Mar 11, 2024
Corporate
Group 1001 Names Boaknin as Chief Information Officer
Zionsville, Ind. (March 11, 2024) – Group 1001, a leading financial services company, announces Nick Boaknin as Chief Information Officer. Boaknin previously held the role of Technology Transformation Leader.
As Chief Information Officer, Boaknin will assist Group 1001’s Technology team in building and delivering high-...
Mar 7, 2024
Corporate
Sponsorship
Group 1001 Includes Women Employees’ Names on Race Cars in Honor of Women’s History Month
Group 1001, a leading financial services company, is off to the races to recognize and honor women employees and financial advisors during Women’s History Month in March.
To celebrate women working for Group 1001, more than 450 woman employees’ names will be included Sunday, March 10 on two Group 1001 company race cars...
Mar 5, 2024
Corporate
Sponsorship
Gainbridge® Signs College Basketball Star Caitlin Clark as Brand Ambassador
Gainbridge®, a Group 1001 company, announced today a multi-year partnership with Iowa women’s basketball star Caitlin Clark to serve as brand ambassador for the company. The company also announced a new product now available on the Gainbridge® platform, ParityFlex™, a multi-year guaranteed annuity product created for w...
Feb 27, 2024
Corporate
Group 1001 Announces Two Vice President Technology Hires
Zionsville, IN (February 27, 2024) - Group 1001, a leading financial services company, announced the addition of Tricia Borcherding as Vice President, Technology Governance and Walter Hjelmar as Vice President, Platforms and Cloud.
In the role of Vice President, Technology Governance, Borcherding will shape and oversee...
Feb 8, 2024
Work Life
Corporate
Celebrating Black History Month
Every February, the United States honors the contributions, sacrifices, and achievements of Black Americans who have helped shape the nation. We’ve asked several Group 1001 employees how they celebrate Black History Month and what it means to them.
Black History Month originally started as National Negro History Week in...
