Briefing: Out with the old and in with the new

So, this is my final opinion piece.

I can’t quite believe I have been doing these for nearly two years now. But, with my recent acceptance of another board position in April 2025, I felt I should now take the opportunity to hand this privilege onto someone else.

I have thoroughly enjoyed penning these monthly missives and I do hope that in some small way, they have interested a few of you in the industry. It is amazing how quick the deadlines come round, how you have to fight the desire to be too controversial and how often the same themes come up as prominent challenges or talking points.

It has been great fun and, as this is my final piece, it does enable me to be a little reflective.

Star seeking

The thing that has taken me aback the most since I started this column is how a career in our profession seems to be overlooked by so many – especially at a time when jobs, especially for younger individuals, seem to be increasingly difficult to obtain.

Aligned to this lack of knowledge about our industry as a career pathway is the constant moan from sector professionals that the root cause of this ignorance is the fault of others – such as trade bodies or insurers.

This notion, however, is absolute rubbish. There are many fantastic candidates out there who could make a brilliant career in insurance. For goodness sake, go out and get them. Wages and competition for jobs is high – get out there and grow your own talent.

People-centric

One of the other common themes I have discussed before is that, even in this world of emerging technology and the fear of how this will transform things, broking continues to remain a people-centric profession with people focused businesses – to clients, to suppliers and within the industry itself.

Relationships build businesses and those that fully embrace this truth are without doubt the most successful.

The most rewarding aspect of my career has been the relationships built – with both friends or foe.

Interestingly, some of those I am now closest to used to be my biggest competitors. And the characters that I have met over the years have been wonderful – mostly good, some not so much, but many who I am pleased to still call friends.

It obviously takes all types to succeed. There are those that chase legacy, or simple financial independence, those that desire the simple respect of their peer group, those who wish to do things differently or those that sadly cannot contemplate ‘a life at home’.

It still amazes me how addictive life at the top can be, particularly for those who have more cash stuffed under the mattress than they will ever need. As rock band The The’s song This Is The Day tells us, “all the money in the world couldn’t buy back those days”.

What seems key for most successful brokers is not surprising – more proving that most old adages have legs. For example, the harder you work, the luckier you are. To treat all as you would expect to be treated yourself. If you do not make mistakes, you are not trying.

However, most businesspeople realise that to get anywhere beyond the day job, there has to be a foundation of strong, mutually beneficial, trustworthy personal relationships.

Knowledge of insurance can be just the start of a career in our sector – it can be the platform that can elevate you within an industry that holds so much opportunity, so much breadth of talent.

I see now some of the younger stars of the future being judges on award panels, attending Biba manifesto launches at Parliament, helping the Chartered Insurance Institute, getting engaged with our industry advisory groups. It is an exciting time to work in insurance.

My very best wishes to you all.