I sat between two claims underwriters as their entry boy. Anything over a certain amount had to go into the websites, and they would pass it over to me. I would make a card and put aside a certain amount of money into a fund to cover the claim. Working at Lloyd's we see nearly every type of insurance there is, and that's what makes it interesting.

If you start from school, like I did, you are moulded into it and given the qualities. There can be quite a bit of figure work, so it helps to be good at maths. I think our box has a good reputation we are all friendly, and even the Governor enjoys a good laugh. Case Study - Jobs in insurance: Finally, there is Philippe, aged 29, who is an underwriter and doing very well further up the ladder. She has an Economics degree from Cambridge University and was educated at a grammar school in the North east.

After she graduated she applied for various jobs in ecommerce and banking, and was introduced to a Lloyd's underwriter through a mate. She describes her career and her expectations: I started in the claims department. Claims are brokered in the same way as risks and I would negotiate with brokers to decide whether or not to pay the claim, whether to appoint an adjuster, or sometimes whether to go to court. Initially, there were a number of clerical tasks and the job was largely a matter of keeping statistical records, preparing figures, checking references on computer cards, and so on. I got pretty fed up with it, but I was told at the outset of the long - term plan and I liked the company and the people.

Out claims department is used as a training ground. The Cii (www.cii.co.uk) runs courses on insurance and reinsurance, and I was sent on a Lloyd's course. I was required to sit the ACii (www.cii.co.uk) exams, and eventually became an FCii (www.cii.co.uk). After a year or so I was allowed to deal with brokers, and was able to handle any claim unless I thought it should be referred to someone else. The job is very much one you teach yourself.

After three years, the two other people handling claims moved on,