Diary of an Apprentice: Charlie Walker
Apprenticeships are an excellent route into the insurance industry. For a profession that can sometimes feel like a closely guarded secret, apprenticeships open the doors and give young people the opportunity to explore the huge variety of roles on offer. But what does daily life as an apprentice really look like?
We took a peek into the diary of Iprism apprentice Charlie Walker to find out...
A Busy Start to the Week…
Early start! My alarm goes off at 6:30am to give myself enough time to get ready and catch the train by 7:30. During my journey, I like to check any emails that may have come in overnight—this gives me a good idea of the types of cases I’ll be handling when I arrive at the office. I like to be prepared!
There are currently three apprentices at Iprism, and we take turns monitoring the team inbox. Today was my turn. I monitor the mailbox and distribute emails fairly among the underwriters. I also review any claims reports and ensure that outstanding information is correctly added to the relevant policy—time is of the essence, so it’s important to get this done quickly!
Once the mailbox is clear, I spend the rest of my day responding to broker queries and requests. Iprism is all about offering brokers choice, and they’re welcome to contact us via email or phone—whichever works best for them. Requests usually include making policy changes mid-term or at renewal. It’s my job to gather the information needed so the underwriters can review the request.
I really enjoy this part of the job—it gives me the chance to speak to brokers across the country and learn more about their clients.
Once I’ve gathered everything, I send the details to the relevant underwriting team—Liability, Property, or Commercial—who will review and either approve or decline the change, and confirm any quote terms. I then get back to the broker quickly with the update. Iprism works to tight turnaround times for quotes, so speed is key!
Wednesdays Are for Studying
I’m currently studying for my Cert CII and Level 3 Insurance Practitioner qualifications with Wiser Academy. Every Wednesday, we have a lesson with the other apprentices, where we’re taught the fundamentals of insurance and underwriting. It’s a great opportunity to link my real-world experience with classroom learning and ask questions about anything I’m finding tricky.
Right now, I’m working towards my IF2 exam, which focuses on insurance package policies.
I really value the commitment Iprism has made to my development. Being able to support my learning with real-life experience has helped me pick things up quickly.
After our study session, I usually head to lunch with Sam and Diamant, the other two apprentices. We all started together, so it’s great having people at the same stage to share experiences with. I really enjoy getting to know them outside of work—it helps build great friendships!
Ending the Week on a High!
At the end of the week, we went out for welcome drinks for some of the new starters. Iprism is growing quickly, which means there are lots of new people to meet and learn from. Everyone has been really generous with their time and advice—it’s a brilliant environment for someone early in their career.
We headed to All Bar One, and it was a great chance to chat with colleagues I don’t normally get to interact with day-to-day. I loved the opportunity to build personal connections and wind down after a productive week.
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