Building a Career at Berkley Specialty London: From Intern to Department Head
Q&A with Laurence Woodford, Head of Engineering & Construction at Berkley Specialty London.
How did you start off in the insurance market?
I started in insurance after finishing my A-levels. I took on a 3-month internship at Berkley Specialty London in their Engineering team, which then led to a job offer as an Underwriting Assistant.
What has been your career path since then?
I spent 2.5 years as an Underwriting Assistant, then a further 2.5 years as an Assistant Underwriter. During this time I studied for my ACII and once qualified was promoted to a full Underwriter. After 3 years I was promoted to Senior Underwriter and 1.5 years into this role, I was promoted to Head of Department; a role I have held for the past 3 years. By working hard I’ve been successful in achieving a number of promotions and by 30 I’m heading up W/R/B Underwriting’s Engineering Team!
What do you like most about your role?
From the outside looking in, I think insurance has a reputation for being a bit ‘dry’ but once you start to understand the industry it becomes genuinely interesting. In my job I am essentially putting a price on risk – which is something unquantifiable – and so I have to rely on a mixture of data and analysis along with knowledge and judgement in order to do this. I enjoy the social side of the role too. Collaboration and strong relationships are key in my job – both internally with colleagues, and externally with brokers– and the London market is surprisingly small. You end up forging relationships and making friends with people that can last for years. Lastly, I get to travel as well, which is an enjoyable perk!
What do you like most about Berkley Specialty London?
I’ve been with WRB my whole career and the main reason is probably down to the fact that they really let you create your own pathway. If you want to go in a certain direction and you can prove that you are adding value, then the business will help you to get there. Even though the Berkley businesses are part of a big corporation, each of these businesses operates within a decentralised structure, so you get a lot of autonomy. We have a very flat management structure compared to most places so that avoids a lot of inter-company politics too.
What advice would you give to school-leavers who are thinking about insurance as a career?
Apply! You don’t have to be a university graduate to get access to this industry. If you are hardworking there is a lot of scope to do well and make a real success of yourself – personally, financially and professionally.
Learn more about our career opportunities and available roles here.