An experience of an Liberty Intern

Authored by Liberty

Luke Richards, Intern, takes a moment to reflect on his exciting first year at LM Re. Luke shares his experiences and the invaluable lessons he's learned while exploring various areas of reinsurance through his rotations within the business.

From sitting my final school exams to being in my second rotation at LM Re, wow, what a year it has been! Time has flown by, and it certainly isn't slowing down.

Early decisions

Choosing to become an apprentice was an easy decision for me. From a young age, I knew I wanted to have a career in the financial services industry because it suited my interests and aspirations. While university was an option, I believed that gaining on-the-job work experience for three years would be more valuable for my career. After going through various interviews and online tests, I was offered the opportunity to become an LM Re apprentice, and I haven't looked back since.

First rotation - claims

My first rotation was spent with our LM Re claims team. It was the perfect way to enter the world of insurance, as I got exposure to different business functions and various classes of business. I learned firsthand the importance and impact of a well-functioning claims team. This was achieved through transparency and building strong relationships with our brokers and clients. I also had the opportunity to start handling my own claims, with the support of my team, which was a goal I had set from day one.

One learning experience during my time working with the claims team was understanding the importance of the pre-claims process and early conversations, which is a crucial focus within the claims industry. The pre-claims process encompasses all activities which take place before an actual claim is filed or policy written to ensure that the product is the most robust offering available for the client’s needs. In line with LM Re’s “Key Client Management” initiative, I was fortunate enough to be involved of the claims team’s relationship development endeavours with a key client. Close engagement with our key partners allows LM Re to have those early conversations about claims coming our way. Furthermore, the LM Re claims team are a leader in their industry so I’m privileged to have learned from the best!

Second rotation - business development

After a fantastic six months in the claims team, it was a bittersweet moment as I transitioned into our LM Re business development team. This was a completely different dynamic, mainly because it is a unique business function and a complete change from my previous role, but I had been interested in business development from the moment I heard about it.

Business development within LM Re is primarily responsible for aligning LM Re with its key brokers across various functional capabilities, whilst offering a consistent level of products and service to its clients with a focus on distributing the right products with a defined risk appetite to global markets.

I am now in my second month in this rotation, and it has once again been a terrific experience as I am constantly learning and developing my skillset. I’m keen to develop my understanding of two key initiatives; Key Client Management and Key Broker Management, which are at the centre of what the business development team do.

Next steps

Since I am on a rotational program, I very much look forward to immersing myself in the wider business to get the most out of my apprenticeship. Over the next year and a half, I’ll be moving into two different teams to continue my development and understanding of the many different business functions across the company. One of those will include underwriting, I am excited for this because it will provide me with a deeper insight into the risk assessment and decision-making processes involved in underwriting. This experience will not only enhance my technical skills but also allow me to better understand how the company manages its risks and supports its clients.

Life at Liberty

As a new joiner at LM Re, I immediately felt a warm and welcoming embrace from the company's culture. From day one, my colleagues went out of their way to make me feel valued and included. The open and friendly atmosphere made it easy for me to approach others for help or advice, and everyone was more than willing to lend a hand. The emphasis on teamwork and collaboration created an environment where ideas were shared freely and collectively improved upon. Additionally, the company's commitment to work-life balance and employee well-being made me feel supported in both my personal and professional goals. Overall, LM Re's culture made me feel like I am part of the team, setting the stage for a successful and fulfilling journey with the company.

It has been an amazing start to my insurance career, and I couldn't ask for a better place to be than LM Re. Everyone across the company has been immensely helpful, providing encouraging support, and for that, I am truly grateful. The future is exciting, and I am grateful to be a part of it.