This month we’re shining the Employee Spotlight on Stuart, who will be retiring at the end of the month. After years of hard work and exceptional client care, we’re celebrating his contributions and reflecting on his journey.

Tell us about your professional background and what led you into the insurance industry.

I had quite a varied career prior to joining the insurance industry having spent some time in the Civil Service, the motor trade & estate agency beforehand. This gave me quite a good understanding of business, sales & customer service, which I have subsequently been able to lean on since coming into Insurance.

At the time I was searching for a new role & wanted the next step to be with a proper career path & that is something Insurance has provided backed by professional qualifications.

I have more recently specialised in Property/Real Estate & have had the privilege of servicing some of the largest franchise letting agents as well as a wide variety of independent Chartered Surveyors across the UK . Supporting their growth and protecting their portfolios has been both a great responsibility and very rewarding experience.

The industry has changed a lot over the years. What are some of the biggest shifts you’ve seen?

I started my career manually calculating car insurance premiums from several Insurer guides & handwritten cover notes.

Computerisation changed the job dramatically making it far simpler & easier to obtain a wider range of quotes in a matter of seconds which also had the ability to produce the policy documentation etc.

This has given me more time to focus on the client it also brought about the Direct Insurer market. This model was revolutionary because it bypassed insurance brokers, cutting out middlemen to offer lower premiums directly over the phone & latterly online.

My clients have always appreciated the tailored coverage, expert advice, and personalised claims support provided which is more important than the cheapest option – buy cheap, pay twice.

What do you think has been the key to building strong, lasting client relationships?

Listening to your client’s needs & demonstrating that you have a good understanding of the specific market/arena your client works in & keeping up to date on changes that may affect them & the potential insurance solutions you can offer/provide to reduce the risk.

Equally as important is getting to know the person the other side of the desk outside of work so family, sports & hobbies & other interests which sometimes can bring common ground to chat about & develop together.

What have you enjoyed most about being a Senior Account Executive?

The people. Firstly, clients without them we wouldn’t have a job & you do get to meet some very interesting characters in this role from all sorts of background & listening to their story & how they came to be where they are & succeeded has always inspired & interested me. Equally sharing their delight/sorrow when events happen to them or their family.

Equally the team around you. You cannot do this role without the backing & support of some good people around you that will assist you & know you can trust to do a good job.

What will you miss most about the team?

The “banter” & social aspect of the team & all its diversity within it.

What advice would you give to colleagues just starting out in the industry?

Start your studies towards your CII qualifications early & maximise the support around you & if possible be mentored by a team member who is in the position where you ultimately want to be.

When you can specialise in a specific area/product & market & become the go to expert in your field.

What are you most looking forward to in retirement?

It sounds cheesy but spending quality time with my wife Tina & children Ben & Katie & Billy the family Cavapoo.

Whilst we have been fortunate enough to travel my wife & I plan to see as much of the world as we can whilst we can – Adventure before Dementia!

Also having the time to hopefully attend some of the top sporting events in the UK & around the world which to date I have never had the opportunity to do i.e. Ascot, 6 Nations & Lions Rugby & England Cricket Tours etc.

Other than that going on long dog walks which incorporate long leisurely pub lunches & drinking Guiness with friends.

Do you have any exciting plans coming up?

We recently holidayed in the Caribbean to celebrate my wife’s big birthday which has only fuelled our thirst for travel & we are currently planning a road trip around parts of Canada to visit friends that we haven’t seen for some time.

Whilst there are many places in the UK, we would like to see we intend to go long haul first & the list is growing.

Is there anything you’d like to say to the team as you begin this next chapter?

I would like to say a BIG thank you to the team, because without them I wouldn’t be retiring.
Because it has been the constant ageist remarks over the last 3 years that have encouraged me to review my options & consider retiring – so thank you all 😊