What does a Insurance Underwriter / Broker actually do?

The short version

Insurance splits into two careers facing each other across the same table. Underwriters decide which risks to write and at what price — paid for risk judgement. Brokers find clients the right cover and negotiate terms — paid for relationships and market knowledge.

The pitch: a professional-exam career (CII qualifications) that takes school leavers seriously, saner hours than banking, and an industry chronically short of people — the London/Lloyd's market pays real money for specialists. The catch: the commoditised end is already automated — algorithmic pricing ate personal-lines underwriting years ago — and the durable territory is complex risk where someone still has to sign their name.

Entry routes that actually work

• Trainee scheme — insurers and brokers hire school leavers and grads alike, with CII study support.
• Graduate schemes — Aon, Marsh, WTW and the Lloyd's Insurance Graduate Programme run structured entry.
• Apprenticeship — paid CII papers from day one; a genuinely good non-graduate door.
• Claims lateral — claims handlers crossing to underwriting; the experience is respected.