Insurance Apprenticeship Programme 2027 - Croydon

Howden Group; Croydon; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous pension scheme

Fully funded qualifications

Structured learning & development

25 days annual leave

Job summary

Howden Group is offering an Insurance Apprenticeship Programme in Croydon starting September 2027. You will begin in a permanent role while completing an 18-month development programme, with a salary of £23,000 and a requirement to work in the office at least 4 days a week.

Eligible candidates should have GCSE English and Maths at grade C/4 and the right to work in the UK. No prior insurance experience is required as full training will be provided, and you will join a permanent role after

Qualifications

• No insurance experience required; training provided.
• Must have full and unrestricted right to work in the UK and have lived in the UK for the last 3 years.
• GCSE English and Maths at grade C/4 or above.

Responsibilities

• Learn foundations of commercial insurance and the role of an Account Handler.
• Draft clear, professional emails to clients and insurers.
• Build confidence speaking with clients and insurers by phone and email.
• Gather information and respond to client queries; facilitate policy management.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date client records.
• Build long-term relationships and deliver excellent customer service.

Job description

Who are we?

Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 24,000 employees spanning over 56 countries. People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work / life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

Insurance Apprenticeship Programme 2027

Location: Croydon

Start date: September 2027

Salary: £23,000

Duration: You'll join us in a permanent role from day one while completing an 18-month development programme.

Structure: You’re expected to work in the office at least 4 days per week and must live within a commutable distance.

Qualification: Level 3 Insurance apprenticeship.

Commercial & Schemes division helps organisations of different sizes, from small local tradespeople to established businesses, find the right insurance to protect themselves from a wide range of risks. We work with clients across sectors including construction, hospitality and leisure, manufacturing, real estate, motor, education and professional services. You’ll step into the shoes of an Insurance Account Handler, helping to look after existing clients and support them with their insurance policies. You’ll join Howden on a permanent role and complete an 18-month development programme designed to develop your technical knowledge, professional skills and confidence to kick start your career.

What you’ll be doing?

• Learn the foundations of commercial insurance and how an Account Handler supports clients.
• Draft clear and professional email correspondence for clients and insurers.
• Build confidence speaking with clients and insurers, helping to answer queries and gather information, both via email and during phone calls.
• Help gather and share the information needed to manage policies and support client requests.
• Support with maintaining accurate and up-to-date client records.
• Build long-term relationships and provide excellent customer service.
• Learn how amendments to insurance policies are managed as well as the policy renewals process.

Who are we looking for?

No insurance experience is needed; we’ll teach you everything you need to know! You'll be:

• Curious and motivated to learn about insurance and develop your career.
• A confident communicator who is comfortable speaking with different people by phone and email.
• Able to build positive relationships with clients, insurers and colleagues.
• Tenacious and resilient when facing challenges or setbacks.
• Organised and able to manage different tasks and priorities.
• Attentive to detail, with strong written communication skills.
• Proactive and willing to ask questions, contribute and support the wider team.

To be eligible for our apprenticeship, you must:

• Have the full and unrestricted right to work in the UK.
• Have lived permanently in the UK for the last 3 years.
• Have achieved a grade C/4 in GCSE English and Maths.
• Not already hold a qualification that significantly overlaps with the content of this apprenticeship.

Why should you apply?

At Howden, people are at the heart of everything we do. As an employee-owned business, we believe success is built through collaboration, learning and supporting one another. You'll gain exposure to an exciting global industry, receive structured development throughout the summer and build relationships that could shape your future career. You'll also benefit from:

• £23,000 and a generous pension scheme.
• Completing fully funded professional qualifications relevant for your role.
• Structured learning and development through our 18-month apprenticeship development programme.
• 25 days' annual leave, plus bank holidays.
• Access to discounted personal health policies, wellbeing support and a range of employee benefits and insurance products.

What do we offer in return?

A career that you define. At Howden, we value diversity – there is no one Howden type. Instead, we’re looking for individuals who share the same values as us: Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new. We support each other in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges. We are determined to make a positive difference at work and beyond.

Reasonable adjustments

We’re committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs. Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours* or hybrid working*. If you're excited by this role but have some doubts about whether it’s the right fit for you, we’ll be in touch to assist in helping to get you set up with any reasonable adjustments you may require.

*Not all positions can accommodate changes to working hours or locations. Reach out to your Recruitment Partner if you want to know more.

Permanent

Howden began in 1994 as just three people and a dog. Now there are 23,000 of us, and we've become a leading global insurance group, managing $37bn of premiums for our clients. Our largest shareholder group is us – the people who work in the business – supported by three long-term, minority growth-equity partners who share our vision to build a business that will last, one that will never be sold. The owner’s mindset is something that’s embedded in our culture; our people readily take ownership of their decisions, their actions, and their outputs. They’re invested in every sense. And we all know that by working together to drive the business forward, everyone will benefit from the extraordinary results we can achieve.