Growing With Purpose: Zoheb’s journey and the expanding future of Wholesale Broking and Outplacement

As NFU Mutual’s business portfolio continues to grow and evolve - particularly across high‑net‑worth and complex commercial risks - we’re seeing even more customers seeking cover for risks that go beyond our traditional core specialisms.

Our Wholesale Broking and Outplacement team work with the open market to find solutions that keep customers protected, all while ensuring they continue to receive the personal, trusted NFU Mutual customer service they value. Our unique and increasingly popular market proposition is one that’s growing in strategic importance, providing exciting career opportunities for ambitious Insurance Professionals.

We caught up with Zoheb Ashraf, who’s recently been promoted to Senior Commercial Account Handler to find out more about his career journey so far and why he thinks joining the team is a great career move. When Zoheb joined NFU Mutual nearly two years ago, he saw an opportunity to step into something different - something with more depth, more learning, and a unique structure that he had been accustomed to in his previous roles. That curiosity has since grown into a thriving career - one he’s now progressing at pace. This is the story of his journey - and why Wholesale Broking and Outplacement is becoming one of the most strategically important and exciting places to build a career at NFU Mutual.

From day one, Zoheb found himself learning quickly, absorbing technical knowledge, understanding the unique business model, and developing skills he knew would propel his long-term career. Within just months, he noticed how much he was growing, and how much more there was still to reach for.

A distinct model that sets you up to learn and develop

Zoheb was drawn to the team because it looked “different” to anything he’d experienced in his other roles in Insurance.

Now, two years in, he feels the model gives him and his colleagues exposure to a wider variety of risks, market conditions, and client needs than he’s ever experienced. As Zoheb explains:

“There’s always something to learn… the knowledge across the team is so in-depth, and you learn from everyone around you. But as an intermediary, the real difference is the collaboration. Every day, you are working with so many teams and individuals both inside and outside the organisation. It makes it really interesting”.

A connected culture

For Zoheb, one of the biggest factors behind his development has been the culture within the Wholesale Broking and Outplacement team. He describes it as an environment where people are trusted to get on with their work but never left without support when they need it. Even with hybrid working, that sense of connection remains strong. As he puts it,

“It’s a team where you’re trusted to get on with your work but supported whenever you need it. And even in a hybrid working environment, that sense of belonging remains strong. It all helps to make you feel like you are part of something – that you belong”.

Career progression: opportunity at every step

That supportive culture is matched with a clear commitment to progression. Zoheb’s own journey reflects the opportunities available across the team. When he joined NFU Mutual, he brought commercial market experience but no intermediary background. Within two years, he had already progressed, thanks to the technical knowledge, confidence, and exposure he’d gained.

“Within under two years, I was promoted following significant development in my technical skills and confidence,” he says.

What excites him most now is the breadth of future possibilities. He can see himself moving into technical consultancy, project‑based work, or even stepping into leadership roles as his career continues to grow. “There are so many routes forward,” he explains, “and NFU Mutual always encourages you to think about your next step.”

Importantly, Zoheb believes the team’s business model opens the door to a wide range of people - not just those with intermediary experience.

“It’s not necessary at all to have worked in an intermediary role before… if you’re willing to learn, you’ll thrive,” he says. “It’s this combination of opportunity, learning, and support that makes the team such a compelling place to build a career”.

The future: growth, evolution, and strategic importance

Zoheb believes the next 12-18 months will be truly transformative for the team - and for NFU Mutual more broadly. As the Mutual continues to expand its offering across high‑net‑worth and complex commercial risks, the role of the Wholesale Broking and Outplacement team is becoming increasingly central to the organisation’s future direction.

Demand for this expertise is rising rapidly, creating new opportunities and prompting the development of fresh binders and enhanced capabilities. With this growth comes a richer landscape for professional development: broader career pathways, deeper technical specialisms, and far greater involvement in shaping the strategy that underpins NFU Mutual’s evolving proposition. It also opens up more routes for colleagues to build experience across the wider insurance lifecycle, supporting long‑term progression and the cultivation of industry‑leading skills.

As Zoheb puts it, “It’s not just a support function—it’s becoming a strategic engine for NFU Mutual’s future growth.”

Zoheb’s final word

For anyone considering a move into Wholesale Broking and Outplacement, Zoheb is clear about the scale of opportunity ahead. He’s seen first‑hand how the team’s growth is creating space for people to develop deeper technical expertise, gain exposure to more complex risks, and build careers that span the full insurance lifecycle. Whether someone is looking to strengthen their market knowledge, progress into project or consultancy work, or take on leadership responsibilities, the pathways are expanding quickly.

As he sums it up: “I don’t think anyone would regret joining. There’s so much opportunity here…I’d advise anyone looking for their next step in Insurance to consider it.”

Interested in joining our Wholesale Broking and Outplacement team?

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to move into a more strategic, technical future, Wholesale Broking and Outplacement offers a meaningful, challenging, and genuinely rewarding career path. Take a look at our current vacancies or register for job alerts by email. We look forward to hearing from you.