Creating and sticking to a study plan can be difficult, particularly when you're trying to balance this with a busy home and work life. Whether you're facing the first exam you’ve sat in a while or you’re a seasoned student, knowing how to make a plan that fits in with your schedule is a key first step towards achieving success.

In the second issue of our member magazine, The Insider, Elaine Morrissey (Associate Solicitor at McDowell Purcell) looks at how EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will impact the insurance industry when it comes into force in May 2018.

There are few things in life more disappointing than realising you’ve been unsuccessful in an exam.

There could be any number of reasons you didn’t pass. Covid of course is still having an impact on all of our lives, or maybe you were experiencing a personal difficulty that hindered your ability to study over the last few months. Perhaps your work schedule was so jam-packed that you didn’t have as much time to revise as you would have liked. Or maybe you can hold your hand up and say that you didn’t put in enough effort this time.

When studying towards any qualification, it can be difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The long evenings and weekends you give up to read textbooks, make notes and take mock exams can feel frustrating and never-ending. However, as you pass each exam and draw closer to your qualification, remember that there is plenty to look forward to beyond gaining extra letters after your name.

Anne Roberts, Marketing and Communications Manager at The Insurance Institute, writes about how in an increasingly faceless, digital world, great customer service is imperative.

When you register for any qualification, it's perfectly normal to feel overwhelmed or unsure where to begin – particularly if you're planning on studying while you work. Getting organised and planning your time is the key to success and helps to relieve some of the stress, so it's important to prepare for the next few months.

In this Thinkpiece from our member magazine, The Insider, Doireann O’Mahony, Barrister-at-Law, discusses recent developments in the assessment of awards in personal injuries claims.

Blockchain is a term you may have come across, but few can explain exactly what this technology can do and its impact on industries such as insurance. Here Caitriona Somers sets out the key points those in our industry should be aware of.

We all like to think we are unprejudiced, inclusive and objective; but unconsciously, we tend to gravitate towards the people who look and think like us. Julie Lynch from PDT Global discusses the damaging effects unconscious bias can have on businesses and gives tips for reducing biases in the workplace.

Talent gaps and skills shortages are key issues for the insurance industry. The dream of an innovative and exciting career can jar with the conservative nature of insurance, particularly for younger generations. So how can organisations in this traditional industry look to attract millennials? The Insurance Institute investigates.