Insurance broker
Insurance brokers use their knowledge of the insurance market to help find the right cover, at the best price, for their customers.
What you'll do
Day-to-day tasks
In your day-to-day duties you could:
- gather information from clients to assess their insurance needs and risk
- research insurance policies
- arrange insurance cover for clients
- negotiate the best policy terms with insurers
- renew or change existing policies
- make sure all business and paperwork meets legal requirements
- advise customers who are making a claim
- use IT systems to keep records and prepare documents
- prepare case reports for insurance underwriters and surveyors
Working environment
You could work in an office.
Career path and progression
With experience, you could move into account handling, claims broking or a business development role.
You could specialise in an area of insurance, progress into management, or move into other types of insurance work, like loss adjusting, underwriting or compliance.
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
- customer service skills
- the ability to sell products and services
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to use your initiative
- persistence and determination
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- excellent verbal communication skills
- maths knowledge
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
How to become
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards the role
- a graduate training scheme
You could take a degree before applying for a place on an insurance company's training scheme. Relevant degrees include:
- business studies
- finance
- surveying
- engineering
It will help to get some relevant work experience whilst you're studying, for example through an internship.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
More Information
You could get into this this job through an insurance professional higher apprenticeship.
This typically takes about 24 months to complete with a mix of workplace learning and study.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
More Information
Employers often prefer to take on trainees with a minimum of GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), including English and maths, and A levels. IT skills are also important.
You would usually start in one of the following jobs:
- insurance technician
- junior account handler
- trainee broker
You could work your way up to broker as you get experience and insurance industry qualifications, for example, through the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII).
The CII qualifications offer study units relevant to the insurance areas you specialise in, for example marine, commercial or general insurance. Examples of qualifications include:
- CII Level 3 Certificate in Insurance - for trainee brokers
- CII Diploma in Insurance
- CII Advanced Diploma in Insurance
If you have a degree, you could join a large insurance broking firm's graduate training scheme.
Most degree subjects are accepted, but a business or maths degree may give you an advantage, as there is often a lot of competition for places.
Career tips
You'll find it useful to have experience in office work, sales or financial customer service.
Professional and industry bodies
You could join the Chartered Insurance Institute for professional development and training opportunities.
Further information
You can find out more about working in insurance from the Chartered Insurance Institute and Step Forward.
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