Hiscox UK to invest in ‘new talent’ with launch of underwriting academy

Specialist insurer Hiscox UK has today (16 March 2023) launched its underwriting academy following a successful pilot in Q4 2022.

The new academy will provide students with technical training and professional development, according to Hiscox.

Its pilot was successful in recruiting 10 new underwriters for Hiscox’s commercial insurance division and enabled an “accelerated certification path” for staff seeking their entry level underwriting licence – cutting the time taken to achieve this by two thirds.

The underwriting academy will now be extended to the firm’s personal lines division, with a further intake for commercial roles planned for April this year.

Over a five month enrolment period, students in the academy will be provided with classroom-based training alongside time spent in a “supportive live environment” before moving immediately into underwriting roles with a level one underwriting licence.

Talent pipeline

While Hiscox said it would “continue to recruit skilled underwriters with experience”, it said the new academy was “part of a wider drive to strengthen the underwriting talent pipeline”.

Jodi Cartwright, distribution director at Hiscox UK, commented: “We are still investing heavily in nurturing new talent, with an increased focus on training, development and career management.”

The Hiscox Underwriting Academy is structured with a syllabus that includes CII modules and training to achieve certification within the first year.

Cartwright added: “As the business grows, demand for exceptional underwriters will keep increasing and the academy will ensure we have a strong pipeline of technically skilled and commercially astute talent to meet that.”