Graduate training programme

A question and answer session with some of our graduates:

 

What attracted you to insurance broking?

I was looking for a career that would involve working with a variety of people and which would present new challenges every day. Insurance broking involves a great deal of face-to-face negotiation with underwriters, as well as meeting with clients to discuss their specific needs. With new enquiries coming in all the time and conditions in the insurance market and clients industries constantly changing, it is impossible to fall into a dull routine.

The main attraction was that it is not a static job. As a broker, there is lots of interaction with clients, brokers and the market, which puts my skills into full use, especially negotiation. It’s a very people orientated industry.

Why did you chose Miller and what sets Miller apart from the rest as an employer?

Working at Miller has many advantages. The company’s size and reputation means that it is well regarded in the industry and a leader in its specialist areas. However, as an independent company with no external shareholders, it is free to focus on looking after its clients and employees. On the training programme, you get the opportunity to learn about all of Millers specialist areas and are exposed to many aspects of the insurance market as a whole.

I heard that Miller was launching a new Graduate Training Programme and decided to apply. The size of the company was an advantage because you are not treated as a number among many and can really make a difference. Graduates have placements in a variety of business units and therefore your experience is not limited to any one specialist area.

What do you do on a typical day?

On the training programme, I spend three months in each business unit, learning how they do business. I am involved in all the functions of the unit, from broking risks, to preparing promotional materials. A typical day could involve researching and preparing information about clients for brokers to present to underwriters, and shadowing other employees.

The training programme is an ongoing training session: there is no typical day for a graduate trainee. Depending on the area you are working in, be it claims, account handling or broking, you are involved in day-to-day business, initially shadowing others. As far as possible, you are involved in internal, client and underwriter meetings, given specific projects to manage, or required to work as part of a team on larger projects.

What have been your key achievements/experiences over the past year?

My key achievement has been developing an understanding of a large range of classes of insurance business, including what can be covered and how the premium and terms of the contract are negotiated in the international insurance market.

My key experiences have been client meetings and visits. This is where I really got to understand clients requirements and how we can help them to achieve the best risk solutions specific to their needs. Broking is still a novelty for me, and I find the challenge really exciting.

What skills do you feel you have acquired during your training programme?

The demands of the programme have meant that I needed to develop my time and project management skills to enable me to deliver all that is expected of me. On the opposite end of the spectrum, I have also learnt to paddle a dragon boat! I was part of the Miller team in the Great River Race, which we won, raising money for Macmillan Cancer Relief.

On-the-job learning means that knowledge is accumulated gradually, building on a solid understanding of the basic concepts of risk and insurance. Spending most of the time shadowing others, I have developed my interpersonal skills and moving departments every three months has helped me learn how to adapt quickly to change.

What qualifications do you have to study on the graduate programme?

Within our probationary period we need to complete the company training and competence test - The Technical Development Programme. Once we have passed this we go on to study the Lloyd's and London Market Introductory Test (LLMIT) which gives us the background knowledge to then take the CII exams to ultimately gain the full Advanced Diploma in Insurance.

How difficult is it to manage the balance between work, study and leisure time?

It is sometimes a challenge, but the atmosphere at Miller is very friendly and supportive, encouraging you to fulfil your potential.

Exams come around every six months, which means you do get a break in between. Ive found that as long as you organise revision time well, its not too painful!