Briefing: Young brokers deserve more than a desk and a diary – give them the Biba experience

Let me say it clearly – sending your firm’s young brokers to trade body Biba’s Young Broker Day at its annual Manchester conference every May is not a business risk.

It is an investment. It is an opportunity to show the next generation that this industry wants them to succeed – not just in theory, but in practice.

And yet, year after year, I meet brilliant, ambitious, early career professionals who are buzzing with ideas and full of energy, but they are not sure they are actually allowed to attend the conference’s specific event for brokers under the age of 35.

They whisper it quietly over coffee or in a LinkedIn message: “My manager just doesn’t want me to go.”

Or even worse: “It isn’t really something we can ask for – it’s seen as an expense or just a day off work.”

This mindset is not just outdated – it’s damaging.

Biba’s Young Broker Day – this year scheduled for 15 May 2025 – is not about freebies, travel snacks or filling goodie bags. It’s about growth. It’s about exposure. It’s about creating a generation of brokers who don’t just sit back and wait to be told what the industry is – they go out and shape it.

What’s on offer?

This year’s Young Broker Day has been thoughtfully curated with high impact, relevant sessions for the modern broking professional.

From tackling artificial intelligence (AI) in broking to exploring how we can build better relationships between brokers and underwriters, the planned content is practical, timely and fresh.

And yes, Biba has only gone and booked Sir Gareth Southgate to deliver a keynote on leadership. That’s a serious statement.

If you are a manager and can’t see how that line up could inspire your team, you may be viewing your responsibility too narrowly. Supporting your team is not about filling seats – it’s about lighting fires.

As Yasmin Carter-Esdale, partnerships lead at Ican, rightly said: “Managers ought to permit young brokers to attend Young Broker Day to drive their team’s development and give them industry insight.

“Through endorsing their involvement, managers can capitalise on the event’s networking while simultaneously improving employee engagement and retention.”

Exactly.

We’ve all been to conferences where people come back and do nothing with it. But that’s not what happens when young people attend the right events, with the right support.

Expanding horizons, not expense sheets

Jonathan Miller, sales director at broker Partners&, also summed it up perfectly: “I remember when I entered the broking world and my office was very corporate broker heavy.

“Industry events like Biba and the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) introduced me to everything from aviation to M&A and loss adjusting to specie underwriting. It gave me a better appreciation of the breadth of careers in our sector.”

That exposure creates ambition. That ambition feeds your future leaders.

The challenge is not just about letting people attend these industry-wide events – it’s about building a culture where we want our teams to be curious, connected and think bigger.

Too often, we reward young talent with more admin, longer hours and vague promises about progression ‘when the time is right’. But what they really need is clarity, confidence and context – Young Broker Day is one of those rare moments where all three of these drivers come together.

And for those watching the budget – let’s be practical. Young Broker Day is free to attend for Biba member brokers aged 35 and under. This is not a costly away day with little to show for it. It’s an investment in retention, learning and culture.

What do managers really gain?

Peter Blanc, global head of M&A at Howden, told me: “Attending the Biba Conference is a fantastic way for young brokers to meet a huge array of underwriters and scheme providers.

“Not to mention the networking with other brokers and, of course, the learnings to be had from the various seminar and conference sessions.”

Why wouldn’t we want to encourage that?

When you give a team member the green light to attend something like Young Broker Day, you’re not just giving them a day out – you’re sending a message. You’re telling them ‘we believe in you. We see your potential. We want you to be part of this industry for the long haul’.

That belief goes a long way. It turns a job into a career.

Isha Patel, managing partner for the south east at Partners&, captured this long-term impact brilliantly: “As a manager of young brokers, I know this type of event gives them a wider perspective. Especially in the earlier stages of their career, it’s important to have exposure to a variety of views across the market to start forming their own.

“Within the business, there will then be greater diversity of thought and giving people the freedom to develop themselves creates loyalty and future leader potential. Isn’t that what it’s all about?”

A call to action

If you are a manager – let your team’s young brokers attend 2025’s Biba Conference. Better yet, go with them. Walk the conference floor, make some intros, debrief over a coffee afterwards.

If you are a young broker or underwriter that wants to attend the event, don’t be afraid to ask. Be proactive. Be clear about what you hope to gain and what skills, connections or information you’ll bring back to the business.

If you are a leader in this industry, start seeing events like the Biba Conference not as a ‘nice to have’, but as essential development for the talent you claim to value.

Let’s be honest – those who feel most threatened by such events are usually those who have forgotten what it felt like to be on the outside looking in.

Give young brokers more than a desk and a diary. Give them experiences, insights and the confidence to thrive in this industry.