When I joined Maven Public Sector as an apprentice in 2021, my objective was to develop strong underwriting skills and gain a deep understanding of the public sector market.
My 18-month long CII Apprenticeship in Underwriting provided me with the technical framework, but it was day-to-day exposure to real public sector risks that turned theory into practical capability.‑to‑day exposure to real public sector risks that turned theory into practical capability.
Since then, my focus has been on broadening my underwriting skills and strengthening my technical knowledge of risks to deliver greater value to our clients, brokers and internal colleagues.
Between 2021 and 2023, my role was Bid Coordinator- supporting and managing new business opportunities for underwriters, particularly formal tenders and mini-competitions.‑ordinator- supporting and managing new business opportunities for underwriters, particularly formal tenders and mini‑competitions.
In practice, this meant:
- Providing support on new business opportunities.
- Reviewing specifications and procurement documents to understand risk profiles and requirements.
- Helping to shape propositions to meet tender criteria while reflecting our underwriting appetite and risk management philosophy.
- Preparing formal response documentation to evidence value, service quality and technical capability.
This experience exposed me to many aspects of the job. This included; market demands and buying behaviour on how public sector entities articulate their needs and evaluate insurers, key underwriting considerations, risk profiling, exposure analysis and understanding the intricacies of different classes of business. A bespoke response is important, and we recognise that each tender represents a unique set of risks and operational challenges.
Alongside tenders, I was also involved in supporting the existing renewal portfolio. I was allocated a number of existing clients and asked to:
- Assist with day-to-day account management.‑to‑day account management.
- Prepare formal policy documentation.
- Analyse renewal information to support a consistent renewal process.
This combination of new business and renewal account work was pivotal in grounding me in the fundamentals of public sector underwriting and stakeholder management.
Qualifying role
Following completion of my apprenticeship, my role evolved into that of Assistant Underwriter. The move from bid support to pure underwriting brought a distinct shift in responsibility and mindset.
I am now responsible for a defined allocation of public sector clients, managing renewals on an annual cycle, reviewing underwriting information and claims experience, and producing renewal terms across multiple classes, including motor, liability and property.
On the new business side, I am now assigned specific policy sections and I am expected to:
- Undertake a full review of the opportunity from a risk and wording perspective.
- Identify information gaps and pose targeted questions to the tendering authority or broker.
- Build a balanced, evidence based risk assessment.‑based risk assessment
- Decide whether and how we can proceed with terms that are both sustainable and competitive.
The adaptation period was challenging. Public sector risks are broad and complex, and each client operates within a distinct political, financial and operational environment. This makes technical accuracy and clarity particularly important.
Learning
A few lessons have stood out:
- Public sector contracts often involve bespoke extensions, service standards and indemnity requirements. Understanding the exact operation of each clause is crucial to managing the account and responding effectively to claims and incidents.
- Being clear on what sits within appetite is only half the equation; you also need to understand each client’s approach to risk management, governance and incident prevention, and how that influences the overall risk profile.
- Even within similar classes of authority, there can be significant differences in exposure, culture and claims experience. Applying a one size fits all lens is rarely appropriate.‑size‑fits‑all lens is rarely appropriate.
Every day presents a new scenario or challenge, be it a complex claim, a contractual query or a strategic renewal question, which in turn creates continuous learning opportunities.
Within a specialist public sector team, you are surrounded by people who have seen unusual claims and emerging risks play out in practice. They have negotiated wording changes and risk improvements over multiple renewal cycles, and built long-term relationships with authorities, brokers and other stakeholders. Actively seeking their guidance, on a clause, a risk feature or a negotiation approach, has been invaluable.
For anyone building a career in public sector underwriting, I would strongly recommend asking questions early, rather than waiting for an issue to escalate and observe how underwriters frame discussions with clients and brokers. It’s valuable to treat every renewal or tender as a chance to refine your judgement, not just complete a transaction.
Ultimately, underwriting is a team sport. Combining technical skills, market knowledge and operational support is how we deliver the best outcomes for public sector clients.
Public sector work often involves fixed deadlines, formal submission dates and internally agreed service standards. Managing these demands requires structure. Since joining the team, I’ve learnt that at the start of each week, listing and prioritising key tasks and deadlines across renewals, tenders and internal projects is key. It’s also useful to tackle items one-by- one, rather than constantly switch focus.
Inevitably unexpected issues arise—urgent queries, claims developments, new tender notifications—but having a baseline structure makes it easier to focus. This helps prevent overload and supports consistent delivery to all stakeholders.
In a portfolio driven environment if you are struggling with workload or a particular technical issue, say so early and invite support or reallocation where appropriate. This openness fosters a stronger, more resilient team culture.‑driven environment if you are struggling with workload or a particular technical issue, say so early and Invite support or reallocation where appropriate. This openness fosters a stronger, more resilient team culture.
I feel I am progressing positively in my underwriting career. Each renewal cycle expands my experience base. There is still a great deal to learn, but that is precisely what makes this sector so engaging. For anyone considering a path into public sector insurance and risk, a structured apprenticeship, combined with hands on exposure, strong collaboration and disciplined working habits can provide a powerful foundation for a long-term underwriting career. on exposure, strong collaboration and disciplined working habits can provide a powerful foundation for a long term underwriting career. ‑on exposure, strong collaboration and disciplined working habits can provide a powerful foundation for a long‑term underwriting career.
