One of the strengths of ERS has always been its ability to combine specialist insurance expertise with innovation. That approach creates opportunities not only for brokers and customers, but also for the people behind the business.
Lead data scientist, James Robertson's career is a great example.
James joined ERS in 2021 as a Pricing Analyst, bringing with him a strong interest in technology, problem-solving and data science. Today, he leads the data science team and has played a key role in helping ERS explore how emerging technologies, including AI, can enhance the way the business operates.
What makes James's story particularly interesting is that it reflects the flexibility and opportunity available within ERS. Rather than being confined to a single discipline, James has been able to build expertise across pricing, predictive modelling and artificial intelligence, applying innovative thinking to real-world insurance challenges.
"My role is challenging and interesting because it's about taking difficult problems and breaking them down into workable solutions," James explains. "Data science and AI provide tools that help us analyse complex information, improve efficiency and ultimately make better decisions."
Importantly, James sees AI not as a replacement for insurance expertise, but as a way of supporting it.
While automation can reduce repetitive tasks, specialist insurance still relies on experience, judgement and deep market knowledge. AI can help process information more efficiently, but it is people who provide the context, make the decisions and deliver value for brokers and customers.
"The biggest breakthroughs happen when technology and expertise come together," says James. "AI gives us more time to focus on work that requires human insight."
His career also highlights something many colleagues value about ERS: the opportunity to grow beyond a traditional role. Through end-to-end project ownership and exposure to different areas of the business, James has been able to develop skills that extend well beyond pricing alone.
That breadth of experience is reflected across ERS. As a specialist insurer, the business offers colleagues opportunities to work across multiple disciplines, building a broader understanding of insurance and developing expertise that benefits brokers, customers and partners alike.
For brokers, stories like James's are a reminder that specialist insurance is evolving. Investing in talented people, embracing innovation and encouraging colleagues to develop new skills helps ensure ERS continues to adapt to changing customer needs while maintaining the specialist expertise on which brokers depend.
Because while technology will continue to transform the industry, it is the people behind it who turn innovation into real-world solutions.
