Bermuda insurance giant XL Capital Ltd. announced yesterday that that it was to offer an educational programme in Switzerland.

In a release the company said that its global account property and casualty insurance subsidiary, XL Insurance Switzerland was to fund a career education programme developed and offered by the Careers Guidance Office of the city of Zurich.

XL said that the objective of the programme was to prepare young adults for successful transition from apprenticeship positions to professional careers.

XL president and chief executive officer, Brian O?Hara, was set to announce the initiative to XL Insurance Switzerland employees, brokers and customers during an official open house reception at the company?s new headquarters in Zurich.

About 300 employees have moved from the former headquarters in Winterthur to the new location at Mythenquai 10 in Zurich?s financial district. Zurich is the continental European headquarters for XL Insurance.

Mr. O?Hara said that XL Insurance Switzerland intends to fund the training programme for two years.