Insurance might not be the first career that comes to mind for many female graduates. Some assume it’s a male-dominated industry. Others are unsure how their degree would fit, or what opportunities are available. But for the women who’ve taken that step into insurance, their experiences tell a very different story.
We spoke to four women who joined NFU Mutual through its Graduate Scheme: Willow Wright, Sarah Kilmister, Lucy Backhouse and Ellie Jackson.
Now working as a Locum Agency Manager, Finance Business Partner, Climate Change Consultant and Financial Reporting Accountant, their career journeys are all different. But together they show that you don’t need your entire career mapped out before you start.
What is it really like being a woman at NFU Mutual?
For the women we spoke to, the answer was encouragingly clear: they don’t feel their gender has limited their opportunities.
For Willow, visibility matters. “A lot of my regional senior managers are female, so I can see what progression can look like through them. They’re really good role models for me,” she explained.
Lucy sees things similarly. “We have women in very senior positions, so you can see that progression is possible. My experience so far has been really positive,” she added.
Sarah’s answer was perhaps the simplest and most telling. When asked what it’s like being female at NFU Mutual, she replied: “Normal.”
Ellie also pointed to the visibility of Employee Network Groups that are helping drive progress. “There’s a strong focus on eliminating gender bias here. It’s great to see networks like Women in Finance and the Gender Equity Network,” she noted.
How do women graduates find their way into insurance?
One of the biggest surprises we uncovered was that none of the women we spoke to had set out with a lifelong ambition to work in insurance.
For Willow, the attraction to NFU Mutual was less about the industry itself and more about finding an organisation that felt like the right fit. “I wasn’t looking at insurance particularly. I did a degree in Equine Science and thought my life would probably be more practical and physical. But as I looked into the opportunity, I saw that it aligned really well with my values and me as a person,” she recalled.
Sarah was similarly focused on finding an organisation that would support her professional qualifications and offer a positive culture. “I knew I didn’t want the sort of culture I’d heard about in some of the big accounting firms. A great place to work was something I was keen for in all the places I applied to,” she explained.
These stories show there’s no single degree, background or route into a successful career at NFU Mutual.
What support does the NFU Mutual Graduate Scheme offer?
Starting your first role can feel daunting. Whether it’s learning a new industry, studying alongside work or finding your feet in a new environment, having the right support matters.
For the women we spoke to, the Graduate Scheme gave them a strong foundation from the very beginning.
Willow found induction helped her quickly build friendships with other graduates. “The induction at Head Office was fabulous because you’re with all the Graduates from across the business, so you build a network straight away,” she recalled.
Ellie remembered the longer-term value of those connections. “You meet people from all across the business and years later you still have that network to reach out to,” she added.
The support also included development, mentoring and professional qualifications. Reflecting on her accountancy qualification, Ellie remembered how practical that support was. “I was given plenty of time outside of work to study and my workload was managed to make sure I had the right balance between study, work and life,” she explained.
Willow also felt development was built into the scheme from day one. “The idea of being on a Graduate Scheme is that you progress. They don’t look for people that want to stand still. They’ll push you to develop and guide you along the way,” she added.
Can your graduate career at NFU Mutual change direction?
One of the most encouraging messages from the women we spoke to was that career progression doesn’t have to be linear.
Lucy’s experience is the clearest example. After joining the business on the Actuarial Graduate Scheme, she realised the role wasn’t right for her. Rather than feeling trapped, she was encouraged to explore other opportunities across the business.
“When I realised it wasn’t for me, my manager encouraged me to go and speak to people from different areas across the business. Everyone was incredibly willing to help,” she explained.
Today, Lucy works as a Climate Change Consultant — a role she hadn’t known existed when she first joined. “The development doesn’t have to be what you thought it was when you joined. You aren’t tied into a silo. There are opportunities to start in one place and move,” she reflected.
Sarah experienced similar support, with her manager helping her identify the skills and experiences that would help her take her next step.
Why do women recommend NFU Mutual graduate careers?
Across their recommendations, a few clear themes came through: support, inclusion, development and flexibility.
For Willow, the supportive culture was what stood out. “It’s a very inclusive organisation. We’re very supportive,” she explained.
Ellie pointed to the way that culture carries through into day-to-day working life. “You won’t find many graduate jobs that are as friendly as this. There are opportunities for development and there’s genuine work-life balance,” she added.
For Lucy, NFU Mutual is especially valuable for graduates who are still working out where they want their career to go. “If you’re not really sure what you want to do, it’s a great place to start because there are opportunities to develop in areas you didn’t even know existed,” she suggested.
Sarah’s recommendation centred on the support people receive as they grow. “People do look after you. They want you to achieve and they want you to progress,” she concluded.
Their careers may have started in different places, but they point to the same conclusion. At NFU Mutual, success isn’t determined by gender. It’s shaped by curiosity, development, support and the freedom to pursue opportunities that match your ambitions.
And as these four women have shown, the journey doesn’t have to be perfectly planned from day one. Sometimes the most rewarding careers are the ones you discover along the way.
Interested in joining NFU Mutual?
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