SME Apprentice Underwriter

Job description details

Job ref: 2025-5423

Closing date: 04/06/2025

Location:
Bolton

Career area:
UNDERWRITING

Salary:
£20,000


Are you ready to kickstart your career in a dynamic and supportive team? In our award-winning Commercial SME Business Unit, we put people and customers at the heart of everything we do.

We’ve a fantastic opportunity to join as an Apprentice Underwriter on a full-time basis, as we experience an exciting growth trajectory and invest in our workforce of the future. You’ll utilise innovative and creative thinking, alongside an analytical approach to your work, as you learn to become a strong negotiator. We’ll encourage you to push your boundaries and provide you with a platform to showcase your skills and develop with our global Insurance brand. 

At AXA, we’re committed to empowering our people to achieve a healthy work-life balance, working between the office and home. We aim for the majority of time in the office, that way you’ll get to spend time with your team in person as well as virtually and, get access to the right support networks internally to help you to succeed.

Initially, you’ll be based in the office full-time, giving you the opportunity to build strong connections with your team and benefit from hands-on coaching and development. You’ll then likely move to 4 days in the office with the remainder at home so it’s important that you live within a commutable distance of your offered location.

What you’ll be doing:

  • Throughout your apprenticeship you’ll learn the required insurance and underwriting skills, working alongside our teams of skilled professionals, and gain the knowledge required to excel in the insurance industry. This apprenticeship combines on-the-job training with dedicated time working towards your qualification through our partnered training provider. The apprenticeship duration covers approximately 16 months of on-the-job learning, study and assessment.
  • Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, you'll gain a nationally recognised Financial Services Administrator Apprenticeship (a level 3 qualification that is equivalent to A-Level standard) and a Certificate in Insurance awarded by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), along with substantial experience that will enable you to progress within the insurance sector. 

For candidates that are invited to our Assessment Centres, these will be held in our Bolton Office on Tuesday 15th July, Wednesday 16th July or Thursday 17th July. The start date for this role will be 22nd September.

Due to the number of applications we expect to receive for this role, we reserve the right to close this advert earlier than the listed closing date to ensure we’re able to effectively manage interest. Therefore, if you’re interested in joining us at AXA, please don’t hesitate to apply.

What you’ll bring:

  • At least 5 GCSEs at Grade C/4, including Maths and English.
  • Passionate, with a desire to learn within the Commercial Insurance Underwriting market.
  • Committed to growing your career at AXA, looking for opportunities to always learn and be part in shaping the future of our business.
  • Active listener who can demonstrate empathy - put yourself in our customers shoes to build key relationships.
  • Pragmatic and confident decision maker with good numerical reasoning skills.
  • Strong analytical skills and action planning.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication.
  • Organisational and time management skills, managing multiple tasks, and balancing work and study time.
  • Able to adapt well to different tasks and situations.

This position has been defined as an Insurance Distribution Directive (IDD) role under the IDD regime which means that in addition to pre-employment screening checks, the successful candidate will be subject to background screening every 4 years with an annual declaration in interim years.

What we offer:

At AXA UK, we’re appreciative of the people who work for us and our rewards package is reviewed regularly to reflect that. You can expect to receive:

  • Competitive annual salary of £20,000 with regular increments throughout the apprenticeship
  • Annual company & performance-based bonus
  • Contributory pension scheme (up to 12% employer contributions)
  • Life Assurance (up to 10 x annual salary)
  • Private health cover
  • 25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays
  • Opportunity to buy up to 5 extra days leave or sell up to 5 days leave
  • Up to 21 hours volunteering leave per year
  • AXA employee discounts
  • Wellbeing services & resources

To apply, click on the ‘apply for this job’ button, you’ll then need to log in or create a profile to submit your CV. We’re proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer and don’t discriminate against employees or potential employees based on protected characteristics. If you have a long-term condition or disability and require adjustments during the application or interview process, we’re proud to offer access to the AXA Accessibility Concierge. For our support, please send an email to charlene.pike@axa-uk.co.uk.

#LI-Hybrid

Who we are:

AXA Commercial protects businesses, from multinationals to micro start-ups, giving them the confidence to thrive. We’re currently making our biggest ever investment to develop the expertise and skills we need to be the best. We’re a vibrant community where everyone is supported to learn, develop, and take ownership of their work.

What we offer

We acknowledge and appreciate the exceptional efforts of our people in protecting what matters most to our customers. In exchange we offer a series of core and supporting benefits designed to empower our people to thrive both professionally and personally.

Competitive Salary

Annual Bonus

25 - 28 Days Annual Leave

Volunteering Days

Pension Scheme

Life Assurance

Employee Discounts

AXA Share Plan

Gym Benefits

Retail Discounts

Wellbeing Apps

Voluntary Benefits

Our Values

Our Values shape what we do and how we do it.
They inspire, guide, empower & unite us.

Customer first

All our thinking starts with the customer

Integrity

We’re guided by strong moral principles

Courage

We speak our mind and act to make things happen

One AXA

Being together and being different makes us better

Inclusion

At AXA we have a culture of trust, respect and care, where everyone belongs. We have an ambition to become one of the most inspiring companies to work for, as such we’re committed to supporting employee needs, providing meaningful career development, and celebrating differences. We all have a role to play in ensuring a working environment in which everyone, regardless of who they are, can reach their true potential. 

Equal Opportunities

We believe in hiring people who possess the appropriate skills and values that align with our vision. Our selection process is fair and equitable, ensuring that all candidates have an equal opportunity to join us. We are dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion, and we actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we take pride in treating our employees and potential hires with respect and without discrimination based on any Protected Characteristics. 

Accessibility Concierge

As a Disability Confident employer, we’re proud to offer our support and access to the AXA Accessibility Concierge. A unique, industry leading offering created to support and encourage candidates with long term health conditions or disabilities that may require alternative methods of applying or for reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process. Our trained Accessibility Concierge Ambassadors will have a conversation with you to identify the support you need and explain how you will be supported throughout the process. The service is available to all candidates, including those already employed by AXA. To ensure ease of access, every job advert lists a responsible Talent Acquisition contact, who’ll be able to connect you with the Accessibility Concierge if you require any support.

Disability Confident 'Offer of Interview' Scheme

AXA UK are recognised as a Disability Confident Leader. We actively encourage applications from people who face barriers in the workplace due to a disability or long-term health condition. We participate in the Disability Confident ‘Offer of Interview’ scheme. This means a fair and proportionate number of candidates with long-term health conditions or disabilities who meet the essential criteria of a job, will be offered an interview.

  • You'll need to show you meet the essential criteria as detailed in the job advert or job description
  • You don’t need to share the details of your long term health condition or disability for your application to be considered under this scheme

As part of your application, you’ll be asked if you would like to ‘opt in’. To ensure ease of access, every job advert lists a responsible Talent Acquisition contact, who’ll be able to connect you with our Accessibility Concierge if you require any support.

Screening & Conduct

As a regulated financial services company, all successful candidates will be subject to pre-employment checks. Additionally, adherence to the Prudential Regulation Authority’s (PRA) Insurance Conduct Standards and the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) Conduct Rules will be required.

How we hire

There are 3 stages to our recruitment process; Application, Interview and Decision. This process provides an opportunity for us to get to know you, and for you to get to know us. We’re looking for people who share our values and ambition.

Application

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Interview

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Decision

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How we work

We know one size doesn't fit all so depending on our customer's needs, your unique circumstances and how your team operates we offer a blend of home and office-based working.

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