Underwriting
Always about making the right decision for the customer
Underwriting
Over 400 people work in Underwriting at NFU Mutual. They can be found in our Stratford-upon-Avon Head Office or as part of our Corporate Insurance team just outside Stratford-upon-Avon. They can also be found at one of our regional centres in Belfast, Bristol, Glasgow, Norwich and York or as part of our dynamic remote team across the North West. No matter where they’re based they focused on providing Underwriting Services to NFU Mutual Agents or to our Customer Contact Centre in Glasgow.
Our goal in both setting our Underwriting Strategy and providing Underwriting Services to agents and customers is two-fold. Firstly, to provide members with the reassurance of first class insurance protection. Secondly, to do so within a framework of Underwriting Excellence which delivers a sustainable and profitable book of insurance risk to NFU Mutual.
We work hard to ensure our Underwriting philosophy is always 100% aligned to NFU Mutual’s three key strategic objectives of being a great company to do business with, a great company to work for and delivering sustainable profitable growth.
Our key teams
Commercial Lines Underwriting
We’re responsible for NFU Mutual’s Commercial Lines underwriting strategy – which is aimed at delivering sustainable profitable growth whilst effectively managing and controlling our commercial insurance exposure and risk. We decide where we want to write business, what lines of business we want to write and what type of risks we want to attract. Our strong technical underwriting capability ensures that we’re delivering excellent underwriting judgement and consistent decision making across our General Insurance business. We’re also responsible for governance and control around technical underwriting.
Counter Fraud Underwriting
Put simply, we protect the business and our customers. With over 20 people, we manage and deliver NFU Mutual’s underwriting fraud strategy - setting out what our tolerances are. We’re also responsible for our underwriting fraud system as well as the regulatory governance and control of the fraud. We investigate fraud following our own NFU Mutual guidelines while working closely with fraud regulatory bodies and the wider market.
Large Corporate Insurance Underwriting
35 people-strong, we underwrite and manage the largest and most complex corporate risks with premiums typically in excess of £100,000 and up to £10 million. We manage £140 million GWPI, underwriting the Property, Liability and Motor Fleet risks to develop long term sustainable profitable growth. Our Large Corporate Insurance underwriters work closely with colleagues in the Claims and Risk Management teams to deliver bespoke, added value services that support our clients in managing their risks. They also work in partnership with the Agency Network and our partner Insurance Brokers to deliver solutions.
Mutual Direct (Underwriting team)
We're involved in a range of underwriting support for insurance policies held through the NFU Mutual Direct account. It's important work, as we make sure the Direct division applies the company’s overall underwriting strategy effectively, manage performance and provide a range of support to customers. This Involves answering customer questions on technical issues, premiums or cover, dealing with new business sales, reviewing renewals and handling customer requests. In short, we provide a strong service to the business on a variety of topics.
Performance, Operations and Governance
Through the Operations team we are responsible for the design of key Underwriting processes, looking to deploy our Underwriting and Pricing strategy in ways that balance efficiency and effectiveness. The Risk and Control Team are responsible for our governance framework, ensuring that we have appropriate first line controls in respect of both the Head Office Underwriting and Pricing Team, and Regional Underwriters. The Performance Team analyse the numbers, ensuring that the actions in place are delivering the required result, and where we are off plan, they are responsible for recommending remedial action to get us back on track.
Personal Lines Underwriting
We’re responsible for NFU Mutual’s Personal Lines underwriting strategy – which is aimed at delivering sustainable profitable growth whilst effectively managing and controlling our personal lines exposure and risk. We decide where we want to write business, what lines of business we want to write and what type of risks we want to attract. Our strong technical underwriting capability ensures that we’re delivering excellent underwriting judgement and consistent decision making across our General Insurance business. We’re also responsible for governance and control around technical underwriting.
Regional Underwriting
Our Regional Commercial and Personal Lines Underwriting teams sit across our offices in York, Bristol, Stratford upon Avon, Belfast, Chester, Norwich and Glasgow. We work with the network of over 300 NFU Mutual Agents across the country to provide Underwriting Services for our members, both from the business communities and the general public. We focus our energy and underwriting expertise to help agents provide innovative insurance and risk management solutions to protect their property, assets and their responsibilities. We do this by analysing and assessing individual customers risk and understanding their requirements.
Reinsurance
We facilitate NFU Mutual’s ability to manage and reduce insurance volatility, by transferring risk through the use of reinsurance. Our work involves the negotiation, placement and management of reinsurance Treaties with a number of different external reinsurance companies. This process supports both our Corporate strategic objectives and our wider underwriting strategy.
What you could be working on
Whichever Underwriting team you join, you'll play an important role in maintaining NFU Mutual's reputation as a fair and reliable insurer. You could be involved in:
Controlling and managing insurance exposure and risk to create sustainable, profitable growth.
Protecting the business and our customers from potential fraud.
Providing Underwriting Service to our Agents and members, going home knowing what you’ve done today could make a real difference if the worst happens.
Helping to keep us on track to hit our financial plans.
Meet some of the team
Josh Gilby, Regional Senior Underwriting Technician
NFU Mutual care about their employees’ wellbeing and foster a workplace based on trust and transparency. The culture’s based on a clear vision and identity. They recognise and celebrate performance and offer continuous opportunities for growth. Managers recognise your knowledge and capabilities, and give you opportunities to grow and develop.
They also promote collaboration, which makes it a fun and open place to work, with a strong family atmosphere - I’ve made genuine friends here. It’s clear that our core values and ethos are demonstrated at every level. I’m proud to work for such a diverse company that truly invests in the well-being of its people.
Simon Mayo, LCI Underwriting Team Manager
I joined NFU Mutual in 2001 and remember thinking the people were very open, honest and friendly. They were clearly proud of the business. Since I joined, I’ve had lots of support from the people around me - managers, coaches and colleagues across the business. This has enabled me to move from underwriting roles into team leading and now management.
The culture here is about performance, giving everyone the opportunities to do their best and achieve their goals. I’ve always been able to challenge myself and increase my knowledge by taking on new responsibilities outside my role to prepare me for my next one.
Emma Williams, Assistant Underwriter
I joined the Underwriting team in 2019 after temping for a different area of NFU Mutual. I really liked the company values, the open culture and the focus on customers and employees. Since joining, my manager’s encouraged me to progress and enabled me to complete my CII Certificate to ensure I have the knowledge and skills to develop my career, as well as organising underwriting training with other members of the department.
As I’ve progressed, I’ve also been given more responsibility, which has increased my confidence and helped to develop my leadership skills. Everyone’s so supportive and friendly here – we even have regular social get-togethers outside the office.
NFU Mutual stories
Current vacancies
Here are just some of the vacancies that we currently have in Underwriting. Simply, click on the job title to find out more.
You can see all the jobs we have available by clicking the ‘See all jobs’ button. But don’t forget, if you can’t find your perfect job right now, you can 'Register for job alerts' or ‘Make a speculative application’. That way, we’ll get in touch when a relevant job does come up.
If you have any questions about the opportunities that we have available, or if there's anything else you'd like to know before you apply (or indeed during the application process), please don't hesitate to get in touch.