New claims conference announced as talent concerns grow

The London and International Insurance Brokers’ Association (Liiba), the International Underwriting Association (IUA) and the Lloyd’s Market Association (LMA) have launched a new claims conference aimed at developing the next generation of claims professionals.

The event, titled Focus on the Future: Building Skills, will take place on 26 October 2026 at the Cavendish Conference Centre in London and is open to claims handlers, brokers, junior lawyers and loss adjusters with between one and five years’ experience.

The initiative comes amid growing concerns about talent retention and succession planning within the London market claims sector.

Research published by the LMA in July found that the proportion of managing agency employees with more than 15 years’ claims experience fell from 37% in 2023 to 31% in 2025.

Meanwhile, the London Market Group’s 2026 London Matters report forecasts that the proportion of market employees aged under 30 could decline from 24% to 7% over the next decade.

Jacqueline Girow, executive director at Liiba, said: “Claims is where our clients find out whether insurance works and the market is losing the people who know how to do it well. Those numbers should worry every firm in EC3.

”This conference is for people in the first few years of their career. They’ll learn from professionals who have decades of experience and will pick up invaluable skills and practical advice they can apply the very next day.”

Skills development

The conference will bring together early-career professionals for a day of technical workshops, networking opportunities and discussions with senior market practitioners.

Delegates will also receive continuing professional development (CPD) credits and temporary access to claims examination revision materials provided by Empower Development.

Registration for the conference is open until 25 September, with attendance available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Joe Shaw, director of claims at the IUA, said: “Claims is a fundamental part of the insurance ecosystem. It is where the promise made when a policy is written is ultimately delivered and maintaining the expertise, judgement and technical capability to do that well is critical to the continued strength of the London market.

“As an industry, we have a responsibility to nurture the next generation of claims professionals and give them the skills, confidence and networks they need to develop successful careers.”

Janine Powell, claims director at the LMA, said: “Our own research shows how quickly deep experience is draining away and you can’t replace 15 years of judgement overnight.

”That makes what we do with people at the start of their careers far more important than it used to be. Bringing them together across the sector this early gives them a network they’ll draw on for decades. We’d encourage line managers to put forward the people on their teams who’d get the most from it.”