Learning and development at NFU Mutual: Investing in growth

At NFU Mutual, learning, growth, and development are at the heart of our culture, and this is especially true for those working within our Guidewire Centre of Excellence. If you join us with expertise in only one area of Guidewire, you’ll be fully supported with training to expand your knowledge across the entire suite of products. We’re proud to offer a variety of professional development opportunities that help our people succeed and advance in their careers. We caught up with some of the people in our Guidewire Centre of Excellence to share their experiences of the broad range of opportunities available. 

Is there a lot of flexibility in terms of career progression here? 

Howard Goodman, Head of IT Applications: NFU Mutual is a very supportive company to work for, and there’s always help available when you need it. Our Guidewire Centre of Excellence supports the full range of Guidewire products for our general insurance business so there’s plenty of scope for learning. Whether you're struggling with something or looking to develop your skills, there are plenty of options to progress and the flexibility to explore new career paths. There’s also lots of opportunity to move up through the ranks, not just in leadership but in technical skills too. We have a framework that allows you to grow both as a leader and a technology expert, offering you the chance to move in whichever direction aligns with your interests and goals. 

Would you say NFU Mutual is a good place to develop your Guidewire expertise? 

Alex McCrossen, Professional Trainee: Absolutely. I'm currently working in our BillingCenter team, but over the next few months I'll be moving between PolicyCenter and ClaimCenter to really get an understanding of how they all work together and also develop my skills technically and my knowledge of each of the applications. 

Ashley Lowndes, IT Technical Engineering Lead: If you’re a Guidewire expert, I'd say it would be a wise move to join NFU Mutual because we've got all three applications – BillingCenter, PolicyCenter and ClaimCenter. That means there's a lot of opportunity to learn and grow. If you haven't worked on all of the applications, you'll have opportunities to train in new areas. You’ll be able to see how all those three systems integrate and talk to each other.

Now you’re using the full suite of Guidewire products, what does that mean for the future? 

Ashley: With the full suite of Guidewire products, we've got that full end-to-end customer journey. Guidewire is key to everything we do in our general insurance business, so the future is all about growth. We'll be investing heavily in growth going forward. 

Howard: While many insurers use Guidewire, what sets us apart is that we’re a pure-play Guidewire company, fully integrated across the suite. Currently, we’re transitioning from a legacy system to Guidewire PolicyCenter, which is a major program we’re focused on right now. 

Richard Hill, Senior Developer: What’s great is that we can share each other's skills and experiences. So, people in the team who work on PolicyCenter, ClaimCenter and BillingCenterall all come together and share best practice in terms of using peripheral software like Git to store the source code, integrating best practices and patterns of integration with other NFU Mutual systems. Working together ensures the best outcome possible. 

Tell us about your experience of training and development at NFU Mutual. 

Liz Jones, Application Delivery Manager: There’s a real emphasis here on continuous development. The company doesn’t just focus on formal training; there’s also plenty of opportunity for on-the-job learning and shadowing. Even if you don’t have specific experience in a certain area, you’re encouraged to take on new challenges and grow. Over the years, I’ve had the chance to go on various training courses and internal development programmes, such as the ‘Developing Leaders’ initiative and the IT Future Leaders programme. These experiences have allowed me to expand my skills and take on more leadership roles. 

Alex: NFU Mutual places a big emphasis on both personal and professional growth. As part of the Guidewire team, there are opportunities to earn certifications that deepen our technical knowledge. In addition to Guidewire qualifications, we also have access to courses in ITIL and other areas that broaden our skills beyond just one technical discipline. The company also supports us in pursuing a master’s degree, which expands our business acumen and technical expertise. 

Howard: NFU Mutual truly believes in investing in its people. The training budget here is impressive, and we ensure that we provide plenty of development opportunities. From mentoring schemes to high-level training, we’ve seen significant personal and professional growth across the business. I’ve personally seen staff mentored by senior leadership, including our CIO, which is an incredible opportunity for anyone looking to grow. 

How have you benefitted from this training?

Indu Mari, Senior Developer: I’ve had excellent support to develop my technical skills, particularly from our technical leads. Whenever I need guidance, there’s always someone willing to mentor me and share their knowledge. This support has helped me navigate new challenges and work toward my goal of moving into a more senior position. I’m also looking forward to working on cloud-related projects and getting certifications in that area, which I’ve already started to work on. 

Richard: NFU Mutual places a strong focus on certification programs. I’ve gone through Guidewire certification for BillingCenter and ClaimCenter, and I’m working towards becoming ACE certified. The company provides dedicated time during the week to prepare for exams, which has been extremely helpful in allowing me to focus on my professional development without disrupting my daily responsibilities. 

What are you most looking forward to working on in the next couple of years? 

Indu: In the next couple of years, I’m really looking forward to advancing my career by moving into a higher-level role. NFU Mutual has a clear career development framework, and I’m excited about the prospects of working on new projects, especially around the cloud migration. I’m already getting involved in this area, and I’m eager to expand my knowledge and grow technically. 

Ashley: I’ve been with NFU Mutual for many years, and I’ve seen my career progress from a first-line analyst to an IT technical engineering lead. Looking ahead, I’m excited to continue learning and contributing to big projects in our claims, policy, and billing systems. There are always new challenges to tackle, and I’m looking forward to what’s next. 

A culture of learning and growth 

At NFU Mutual, learning and development are more than just a part of the job – they’re embedded into our DNA. Whether it’s through structured training programs, certifications, or hands-on learning, our people have access to a wide range of opportunities to grow. With a clear focus on mentoring, career progression, and technical skill development, we ensure that everyone is equipped to take on the challenges of tomorrow while advancing in their careers today. 

Join us on our journey 

This is a chance to be part of the creation of transformative solutions that will have a lasting impact on the general insurance business at NFU Mutual, our customers and their communities. Check out the latest Guidewire vacancies and join us on this exciting journey.