MGAA Next Gen: Putting the MGA market on the map for future talent

Members of the MGAA Next Gen Committee were pleased to represent the MGA community at the London Market Group’s Lime Street Festival, speaking with students, school leavers and apprentices about the opportunities available across the MGA sector.

The day provided a valuable opportunity to introduce future talent to Managing General Agents, explain the role MGAs play in the wider insurance market and highlight the variety of career paths available within our sector.

From our conversations on the stand, what stood out most was the level of engagement, curiosity and enthusiasm from the students who came to speak with us. Some had already heard of MGAs, while others were learning about the sector for the first time. In both cases, there was a clear appetite to understand more about what MGAs do, how they operate and where early-career opportunities may exist.

A recurring theme from the day was that many students had not previously considered a career in insurance. For some, insurance simply had not been presented to them as a potential career path. However, after learning more about the market, the role it plays in the global economy and the variety of opportunities available, many were genuinely interested in finding out how they could pursue a career in our sector.

This is an important point for the market to reflect on. For years, many of us have heard people say that they “fell into insurance”. While that may still be true for many successful careers, MGAA Next Gen believes there is more we can do to ensure future talent actively chooses insurance. We need to continue putting insurance, and the MGA market in particular, on the map as a visible, viable and exciting career option for young people.

Many students were particularly interested in the idea of working in an agile, forward-thinking and technology-focused environment. The opportunity to join businesses that are close to real underwriting decisions, specialist risks, innovation and market relationships clearly resonated with those considering their first steps into insurance.

For MGAA Next Gen, the event was an important reminder of the role we can play in making the MGA sector more visible and accessible to new entrants. The London Market continues to compete for future talent, and it is vital that MGAs are part of that conversation from the outset.

Following the event, a number of students have already contacted MGAA Next Gen to ask for further guidance and to learn more about potential opportunities in the MGA market.

We are therefore asking MGAA members to let us know if they are currently recruiting, or planning to recruit, for any entry-level, school leaver, apprentice, internship, work experience or junior roles.

This could include opportunities across underwriting, claims, operations, data, technology, compliance, marketing, finance, business development or any other part of your business.

We would also welcome hearing from members who may not currently have live vacancies but would be open to offering advice, work shadowing, mentoring, insight sessions or informal conversations with students interested in the MGA sector.

Where appropriate, MGAA Next Gen would be pleased to help connect students we met at the Lime Street Festival, and those who have since contacted us, with member firms who are able to offer support, guidance or opportunities.

If your organisation is looking to attract early-career talent, or would like to support future entrants into the MGA market, please contact the MGAA Next Gen Committee or the MGAA team.

By working together, we can help ensure the next generation of insurance professionals understands the value, variety and opportunity available within the MGA sector.

Find the MGAA Next Gen team on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/showcase/mgaa-next-gen

Contact the MGAA Next Gen team: nextgen@mgaa.co.uk