Having recently joined ERS as an Underwriter, Mollie Smith-Goodwin is building the next stage of her insurance career. We sat down with her to find out more about her first few weeks, what drew her to ERS and her ambitions for the future.
Welcome to ERS. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background?
I recently turned 28 and originally come from South London, although I've been living in Kent for nearly 13 years. Before starting my insurance career, I managed a cocktail bar in Herne Bay, so it's fair to say I know my way around a cocktail shaker!
What attracted you to a career in insurance and underwriting?
To be honest, insurance wasn't something I originally planned to go into. A role I was going for fell through and I needed to find something quickly, which led me to join a brokerage. As I progressed and moved into management, I realised I wanted to take the next step and move into underwriting. It felt like the right path for me to continue learning, developing and building my career.
What was it about ERS that made you want to join the business?
I've worked exclusively in motor insurance since joining the industry, so the opportunity to join a specialist motor insurer was really appealing. ERS has a strong reputation in the market and it felt like the perfect place to broaden my knowledge, develop my skills and continue progressing my career.
It's been five weeks since you joined us. What are your first impressions?
It's been incredibly positive so far. Settling in has been made really easy thanks to the support from my team and everyone I've met across the business. I've genuinely enjoyed my first few weeks and haven't looked back since joining.
Everyone talks about culture when they join a new business. What has stood out to you most so far?
The sense of teamwork has really stood out. Everyone has been so welcoming and always willing to help whenever I've needed support. People have regularly checked in to see how I'm getting on, which makes a huge difference when you're starting somewhere new and finding your feet.
What excites you most about your new role as an Underwriter?
I'm looking forward to continuing to build on the knowledge and experience I've gained so far while learning new skills and approaches at ERS. Every insurer operates differently, so it's exciting to gain a new perspective and continue developing as an underwriter.
What skills or experience do you hope to bring to the team?
One thing I'm particularly proud of from my previous role is the relationships I built with brokers. I worked hard to establish myself in the market and become someone brokers trusted and wanted to work with. I'm looking forward to bringing that relationship-focused approach to ERS and building connections with a new network of brokers.
What do you enjoy most about working with brokers?
Every broker is different, which is what makes the role so interesting. I enjoy understanding their individual needs, learning how they work and building trusted relationships that help us achieve the best outcomes together.
What can brokers expect from you as they start building a relationship with you?
Brokers can expect someone who is approachable, responsive and genuinely wants to help. Building strong relationships is important to me and I believe that working closely together makes everything easier and more effective. If I don't know the answer to something, I'll always do my best to find it and come back with a response as quickly as possible.
What are you hoping to achieve in your first year at ERS?
I'd like to establish myself as a reliable member of the team and make a positive contribution to both my colleagues and the wider business. I also want to continue developing my underwriting skills, deepen my understanding of ERS and gain a strong knowledge of our products and underwriting appetite.
Where would you like your underwriting career to take you over the next few years?
My main focus is continuing to develop my underwriting knowledge and experience. I want to keep learning, take on new challenges and build a long-term career with ERS as I continue to progress and grow professionally.
What are you most looking forward to as you begin your journey with ERS?
I'm looking forward to getting to know more people across the business, building relationships with brokers and embracing all the opportunities that come my way. I'm excited to see where the journey takes me and ready for whatever comes next.
"Mollie's brought great energy to the team since joining ERS. She's thrown herself into learning, building relationships and getting involved, and she's made a fantastic start. We're really pleased to have her on board and excited to see her continue to develop her underwriting career with us." Dave Hawthorn, Fleet Senior Underwriter and Mollie’s line manager
