Here at Amwins Global Risks, we’re proud of the opportunities we offer our team. Just like we do for our clients, we work with our employees to find a solution that’s right for them. Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll be sharing the stories of some of our team members who’ve stayed at Amwins and gone through a transition – whether it’s a new role or team, a new city or country.
Harriet Boulding, Senior Associate Broker
Transferring to an Amwins US office
Harriet Boulding started at AGR in September 2018, as part of the second intake of our Graduate Programme. She was placed in our Professional & Financial Risks division after completing the programme, and worked in the Financial Institutions/Crime team for over three years. Having lived and worked abroad before, she decided she wanted to do it again, but didn’t want to leave the company. When we asked Harriet why, she told us:
“It sounds cliché, but it’s because of the people I’ve worked with here, the vibe in the office and the culture. It’s such an impressive company when you look at the growth and numbers, as well as the management both in London and in the US. They really care about who they employ.”
After a few months of discussions with AGR senior leaders, they determined Chicago was a good option, given she had worked closely with some of the teams there over the past few years and they are generally big supporters of placing business via AGR into London. Harriet moved in September 2023, and hasn’t looked back.
“It’s going really well,” she says. “It’s a huge learning curve but I’m really enjoying it. While there are some notable differences to London, it definitely feels like the same company and the same culture, which is great.”
“I feel loyal to Amwins,” she says. ‘They’ve invested so much in me, and that comes across. It’s an epic place to work.”
Zach Antoniou, Broker
Moving from Finance in Group Support to broking for the Marine team
Unlike Harriet, Zach Antoniou wasn’t interested in moving countries – but at the end of 2022, Zach was invited to a broking Away Day with the Marine team to do a presentation. He’d chosen a career in Finance, and Amwins Global Risks was his first job after university, starting out in 2017 and working his way up to Finance Business Partner. He was enjoying working closely with a few broking teams, discussing their budgets and forecasts, and had received feedback that he’d make a good broker. Through chatting with the team at their Away Day, Zach heard about an opening for a broker role. After some thought, Zach realised broking felt more suited to his skills and professional interests, and he wanted to make the transition.
Zach’s manager in Finance was supportive, preferring that he move teams rather than leave the company entirely. However, due to resourcing issues, it was agreed Zach would work in a hybrid role for six months, starting out doing three days in Finance and two days in the Marine team, and eventually increasing this to five days in Marine.
“The hybrid role was really hard,” he says, “I felt like I was doing two full-time jobs at the same time, but I didn’t want to leave the Finance team without a proper handover.”
Zach has been working fully in a broking role in the Marine team since July 2023.
“Now that I’m settled, I wouldn’t look back,” he says of his new role. “I’ve become more confident and comfortable. The team’s been so good, and I’ve learned so much from them since they’ve taken me on. I still ask loads of questions and will for a while, but isn’t that the nature of any job?”
Chloe Thompson, Front of House
From broking with UK Motor Fleet to a role in Group Support as Front of House
Chloe Thompson began working in the insurance industry when she was only 16, in customer service at XYZ Insurance. She moved to AGR in 2018, working as a technician for the UK Motor Fleet team, in which she progressed up to handling smaller renewal accounts.
Chloe’s experience made her realise how natural she was at connecting and communicating with people. ‘‘I loved building relationships, so when the opportunity at front of house came up, it felt right.’’
Having struggled with self-doubt in the past, she worried it might not be the right career-move for her in the long run. She found, however, that the move from broking into the Group Support Team (GST) side had the complete opposite effect on her confidence. Working in the broking side of the business, Chloe knew what brokers could need and how to best respond to those needs, so she felt at ease learning the ins and outs of a position in GST.
‘‘I am more confident as a person and that is purely down to how approachable and kind everyone has been. We get amazing opportunities to continue developing in our careers here, and I wouldn’t feel so comfortable learning and growing in my new role if it wasn’t for the incredible support and encouragement.’’
She now serves as the face of the company, greeting everyone when they first walk in, managing meeting rooms and coordinating client visits, organising catering for events and client entertainment, and provides 5-star customer service five days a week.
‘‘A lot of people are confused why I switched from broking to ‘reception’ as normally it’s the other way round – but there is so much more depth to the role. The move has really made me appreciate how much GST does to support the broking side of the business.’’
Jack Boxall, Broker Analyst
Transitioning from HR to broking for AGR's MGA & Portfolio Solutions team
Returning from his year abroad in the US, Jack Boxall started at AGR as an intern for the HR team during the summer before he completed his degree. He spent the internship learning about HR and what a career in insurance is like; he seemed to like it, as he accepted a short-term contract to be an HR Analyst as soon as he graduated!
‘‘I had a very varied role, starting with admin but then as we built out the analytics capabilities of the HR team, I began to use Excel and Power BI much more, which kickstarted my journey in data analytics. As I became the “data” person in the team, I began getting involved in more projects – with my main one being salary and bonus review.’’
After four years in HR, Jack needed a new challenge. He enjoyed data analytics work in the HR team and felt that a lot of the skills he had developed along the way could be applied in a different role at Amwins. ‘‘I then became aware that the Binders team were looking for someone who had a background in data analytics, so I met with the team to discuss the role, and it sounded like a great opportunity for me.’’
The fit was right for everyone, and when Jack started the new role, it was largely focused on improving the data offering that his new team can provide to client and underwriters. By helping the team automate a lot of the admin side of the job, Jack’s contributions to the team have allowed them to give insights to key stakeholders more quickly and consistently. Now, after two years on the Binders team, Jack is learning how broking works and technical elements of the job, and is getting involved with the renewal processes and business conferences.
‘‘I think the main thing I like about my time at Amwins so far, is that I haven’t stopped learning; in both roles I’ve had, I’ve had the opportunity to develop both in and out of work.’’
Jack says that most of all, his transition was made possible by the people that have supported him across his different teams, and who have genuinely cared about his development professionally. ‘‘It’s that kind of attitude that results in retaining good people who can develop grow; it’s what made me want to stay and go through a career change here, rather than look anywhere else.’’
