Surety Graduate Programme

hyperiongrp; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 34,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days' annual leave

Generous pension scheme

Job summary

Howden is launching a Surety graduate programme in London. You’ll join a permanent role with an structured 18-month development programme designed to build your technical expertise, commercial awareness and professional confidence from day one.

Starting September 2027, you’ll learn about surety products, work with clients and underwriters, review contracts, and develop relationships with internal and external stakeholders. A Law or Finance degree is expected.

Qualifications

• Recent Law or Finance graduate with interest in commercial and financial matters.
• Analytical mindset with meticulous attention to detail.
• Strong communication and negotiation abilities for professional settings.

Responsibilities

• Support the Surety team in structured client transactions and bond placements.
• Review legal contracts and financial records for risk assessment.
• Assist with client documentation and meeting preparation.
• Build relationships with internal stakeholders and external contacts.
• Take meeting notes to keep client files accurate and up to date.
• Participate in early client and insurer meetings and learn deal negotiation.
• Contribute to learning and development throughout the 18-month programme.

Skills

Analytical

Attention to detail

Communication

Negotiation

Relationship building

Education

Recent Law or Finance graduate

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.

Please read before submitting: You may only apply to one graduate programme for our 2027 intake. Submitting duplicate applications will result in them not being considered.

Location: London

Start date: September 2027

Salary: £40,000

Working Pattern: Hybrid (3-4 days in the office)

Surety Graduate Programme

Be Part of the Deals Behind Major Global Projects

Are you interested in how major businesses win contracts, manage risk and deliver large-scale projects? Join Howden’s Surety team and discover how surety helps businesses secure the guarantees they need to win contracts, deliver projects and fulfil important commitments. We work with clients, insurers and financial institutions to arrange solutions that support projects, investments and commercial agreements around the world.

As part of Howden’s Capital, Advisory and Placement team, you’ll gain exposure to finance, legal agreements, risk assessment and relationship management, all while working on real client projects from the start of your career.

You’ll join Howden in a permanent role and complete our structured 18-month development programme, designed to build your technical expertise, commercial awareness, professional confidence and long-term career foundations.

What you’ll be doing?

You’ll begin with a structured induction before joining the Surety team, where you’ll work alongside experienced specialists supporting complex client transactions.

• Learn about our surety products and the end-to-end process for placing surety bonds.
• Work directly with clients and underwriters to structure and place surety bonds.
• Review legal contracts and financial records to identify any risks that may make the surety bond too risky for an insurer.
• Support with reviewing client documentation and preparing materials for upcoming meetings.
• Assist with taking meeting notes to ensure that client files are accurate and up to date.
• Gain early exposure to client and insurer meetings, learning how our clients are advised and how deals are negotiated.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external contacts.

Who are we looking for?

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

You’ll be:

• A recent Law or Finance graduate, or in your final year of study and have a strong interest in commercial, legal, and financial matters.
• Analytical and have meticulous attention to detail.
• Confident to learn how to influence and negotiate in professional settings.
• A strong communicator who enjoys building relationships and working with clients, colleagues and external partners.
• Able to articulate your ideas well both in writing and verbally.
• Comfortable speaking on the phone with senior individuals.
• Resilient and hard-working and curious to learn and develop.

To be eligible for our programme, you must have the full and unrestricted right to work in the UK.

Why should you apply?

£40,000 salary and a generous pension scheme.

A permanent role from the day you join Howden.

Structured learning and development through our 18-month graduate development programme.

25 days' annual leave, plu