Who We Are
Empower Development is an award-winning training consultancy specialising in helping insurance professionals achieve their potential. We are a team of 10 dedicated and passionate training specialists.
We pride ourselves on knowing what it takes to succeed in our industry. We use this knowledge to develop training and resources that provide individuals and organisations with the skills needed to thrive today and in the future.
Between them, our trainers hold decades of experience in the industry as well as recognised qualifications. They use their specialist technical and behavioural expertise to ensure that learnings from the classroom are immediately transferable to the day-to-day roles of insurance professionals.
What We Do
We provide a wide range of training and development products and services for organisations and individuals in the insurance industry.
Our range of in-person and virtual offerings includes early careers, management and leadership, team building events, CII study support, soft skills courses, technical training, and 1:1 coaching.
Our game-changing online CII revision platform has made getting CII qualified simpler and more accessible than ever before.
Supporting the Industry
We care deeply about the industry. As part of our mission to help insurance professionals achieve their potential, we offer free support to improve entry-level access to the industry and encourage networking and career development. This includes regular free industry events, free revision webinars, a YouTube channel, free CII exam aids, a regular insurance HR roundtable and a podcast focused on lifting the lid on insurance careers.
Our Awards
We are extremely proud to receive recognition for the work we do. Our awards show that we are a trusted training and development partner to the insurance industry
Message from Samantha Lydon, Founder and Managing Director of Empower Development
“After many years working in HR and L&D in the insurance industry, I found that it was almost impossible to find trainers and courses that truly understood and catered to the needs of insurance professionals. I figured that if I had this need, other companies would surely have it too, so in 2018, I launched Empower Development to fill the gap.
The rest is history! Over the past 6 years we have grown to a team of 10, all passionate about helping professionals across the market progress and enjoy their careers.
I am proud that as well as helping those already in the industry, we are also able to do so much to spread the word about insurance careers, making the industry more accessible to people from all backgrounds.
I love hearing from people in the industry, so please connect with me through any of our social channels.”
Trainers
Samantha Lydon
Samantha Lydon specialises in supporting insurance professionals develop their personal effectiveness and highlight their career potential. After starting her HR career in private banking, Samantha first discovered the insurance industry as an HR professional at Liberty Syndicates in 2010. Eager to understand more about the industry she worked in, Samantha completed her ACII and began supporting colleagues through their CII revision which is when she discovered her passion for Learning and Development. Through a merger with Liberty International, the organisation grew quickly, and Samantha progressed to Learning and Development Manager where she delivered training and coaching internally across the globe including Dubai, Brazil, Cologne and Dublin. Within the London Market, Samantha supported development through her voluntary position on the LMA Academy Committee and as Chair of the LMA Academy Sub-Training Group.
After identifying a need for high-quality training that was tailored to the unique needs of the insurance market Samantha launched Empower Development in 2017. Since then, Samantha has delivered training across the market and regularly speaks at industry events. Keen to continue to support development for industry professionals, Samantha has a voluntary role on the CII Education and Learning Committee.
“Samantha is an awesome speaker, presenter, storyteller”
“Samantha Lydon is a great mentor with vast knowledge”
Qualifications
ACII, CII Accredited Advance Level Trainer, member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, BA(Hons) Human Resource Management, Myers Briggs Step I, Myers Briggs Step II, ILM Level 5 Coaching and Mentoring Diploma, Strength Deployment Inventory Practitioner.
Emma Ackers
Emma began her career in insurance in 2005 working in administration at national brokers Swinton Insurance, within the commercial lines division. Emma built her knowledge and expertise progressing through the business in customer service, renewals, accounts, business change and learning & development. This is where Emma completed her Certificate in Insurance and Apprenticeship in Retail Financial Services.
Emma progressed to an operations coordinator role at Towergate Insurance where she developed her passion for ensuring everyone had the support they required to succeed in their role and in their professional studies through training, whilst also continuing with her own studies for the Diploma in Insurance.
After identifying her passion for developing others Emma became an insurance apprenticeship coach, coaching apprentices through their Level 3, 4 and 6 Insurance apprenticeships. This is where Emma gained her teaching qualification and began delivering classes for the Certificate and Diploma in insurance. Emma has worked for some of the main apprenticeship providers in the further education sector.
Emma loves delivering CII training and creating support that breaks down tricky content and makes the learning experience a fun one. She is also a big advocate for careers in the insurance industry and has volunteered as a mentor on Into Insurance for years prior to joining the Empower Development team.
Emma is also the Chair of the Education & Development Committee and Deputy President at The Insurance Institute of Manchester, where she champions professional growth and education across the region.
“Emma was very good and interacting. You could tell she understood what she was talking about and was passionate about delivering the training”
“Emma was very engaging and provided great insight into how to communicate better as an underwriter”
Qualifications
Cert CII, Level 4 Preparing to Teach in Lifelong Learning, Member of the Society of Education & Training as an Experienced Practitioner
Antonia Roberts
Antonia is Head of Training & Development at Empower Development. She has spent over 11 years in Learning and Training including time spent as a L&D manager in insurance, experience leading learning and change projects for complex global organisations with Deloitte and heading up an in-house L&D team for a UK law firm.
Antonia is a passionate L&D professional who loves all things learning. She is an expert facilitator, a qualified coach and holds multiple psychometric accreditations.
She prides herself on her track record of combining a consulting approach with an understanding of on-the-ground L&D to design and deliver practical learning solutions that lead to actual performance improvement. She supports clients with a range of skills topics, specialising in Strategy, Projects, Leadership and Management.
“There was a nice balance between theory, break–out sessions, and time to reflect with my own thoughts on course material. I thought the coach Antonia was excellent in all aspects, particularly her smooth and confident delivery”
“I really enjoyed the 3 courses I did with Antonia/Empower Development. The way she presents and engages the group, and the content, of course, make it very worthwhile.”
Qualifications
Strengths Deployment Inventory (SDI), MBTI Step I & Step II, Neo PI-3, Hogan HPI, HDS and MVPI, Strengths Profile, APM Project Management Fundamentals (PFQ), BPS Test User Ability & Personality, ILM Level 5 in Mentoring and Coaching, Award in London Market Insurance
Claire Shepherd
Claire has over 20 years of commercial business experience, including three years specialising in Insurance. As well as providing strategic support to clients, Claire combines her pragmatic approach with the latest thinking in business performance to design and deliver impactful and engaging training programmes. Claire is an expert communicator and facilitator. She specialises in business skills, project management and introductory insurance topics.
“You were awesome Claire, the enthusiasm and style of delivery really worked for our audience”
“Thanks so much for running such great sessions with the group – your knowledge and enthusiasm brings such a great for the group”
“Thank you for sharing your passion and knowledge about insurance with us … Claire Shepherd your enthusiasm was enjoyed by all those attended 👏”
Melissa Lucy
Mel is a Senior Training Consultant at Empower Development. She has spent most of her career working in the insurance industry, specialising in learning and development for the past 12 years.
Mel’s L&D experience includes time spent in senior learning roles, business partnering, workplace coaching, designing and delivering apprenticeships and managing training teams.
Mel balances an approachable and energetic style with a business-focussed, strategic approach to designing and delivering L&D that makes an impact. She has experience training at all levels from Early Careers to Exec.
Mel has a dual focus at Empower, specialising in soft-skills topics including leadership and management as well as introductory insurance topics.
Qualifications
Level 5 CIPD Intermediate Diploma in L&D, Level 3 ILM Award in Effective Coaching, ILM Level 3 Certificate in L&D, Strengths Deployment Inventory (SDI), Trained DISC Facilitator.
Grace Maxted
Grace first entered the insurance market 15 years ago as Professional Claims Support at Devonshire Claims Services. Building her expertise as a claims professional, Grace worked at Xchanging, where she completed her ACII and law degree at evening classes. Grace went on to QBE, where she identified her interest in training through the delivery of internal technical training at their offshore office in Cebu, Philippines. Grace became an external trainer and consultant in 2015 and has supported hundreds of students through their CII revision and assisted their understanding of technical subjects with her engaging and supportive delivery style. Grace is well-known across the insurance industry; with recent projects taking her to the United Arab Emirates where she supports insurance professionals through their compulsory exams.
Qualifications
FCII, ACII, LLB (Hons)
Who we work with
