Trainee Trading Underwriter Review

I am a trainee underwriter. My daily tasks involve calculating renewal premiums and inviting renewal premiums to insurance brokers as well as writing new business. I speak with other members of the team daily if this is for advice or just a general query about work. I speak to brokers via phone and email every day also. We are encouraged to get involved with charity work projects as well as to speak our minds in regards to ways we feel that we could improve the business or different processes.

In my first year at Aviva i gained the certificate in Insurance and i am now working towards the Diploma in Insurance which is a valuable professional qualification to have and is recognised in the insurance industry. I have also gained internal licenses within aviva which give me the authority to write up to a certain amount of business within the set guidelines. I have learnt a lot about the technical side of insurance within my first 16 months at aviva as i was completely new to the insurance industry.

I am really lucky to work with a great team and the whole of the branch that i work with are really welcoming and made me feel really comfortable when i started. I have also made a lot of friends here and we now go out socially. I didnt really know what to expect so i cant say whether it exceeded my expectations but i really enjoy the programme and Aviva have been great to work for so far.

I feel that you are recognised for your hard work and this could be through your team manager or anyone else within the branch. Also as an apprentice you get to be involved in a lot of things that a lot of people dont get the opportunity to get involved in.

I think that the structure of the programme has improved massively since i have started. There is now a proper induction on your first day/week. I also found really useful you get assigned a mentor/buddy therefore if you are unsure of anything then they are there to help. We also got to meet the other apprentices round the country at an event in London where the company paid for our hotel etc which was a really nice start to the job.

We recieve 5 days a year study leave for our exams however the exams are up to you to put the hours in to study. Everyone is really supportive of the exams and my manager supports the study days for me to have in order to prepare for my exam. I think Aviva is really supportive towards the apprentice scheme and we get given a lot of good opportunities.

I feel that the support from my employer, manager, mentor etc is brilliant and i couldnt fault anything. I know that if i had a problem or wanted to discuss anything i could go to any of them.

I feel that we get paid a good amount for an apprenticeship however the requirements in order to apply were to have A levels so i do think this warranties a higher pay. I feel that the salary i get is adequate to support my life currently however i live at home so i dont have mortgage/rent costs i think i might struggle if i would have to pay that.

Yes there are a lot of social events that happen outside of work. I have also been to a few CII dinners which involve other insurance professionals. I also really enjoy working in the location that i do (birmingham) as i feel that i can go out on my lunch break or after work and there are many different bars/restaurants/shops i can go.

Yes

I really enjoy my job/people i work with/location and i dont really have a bad word to say about it. I think if you are hard working, willing to study for the exams and are easy to get a long with you would fit in here.

I think be enthusiastic for your interviews and ensure if you have any questions ask, i think for the assesment day just try your best and ensure that you are yourself but still professional. I would also reccomend you take the opportunities that are given to you and dont take them forgranted as not all employees within Aviva are given the same opportuntities as the Apprentices are. I wish i had the opportunity to read these surveys from the apprentices when i started because i didnt really have a clue what to expect.