A little bit about Ellie
I am a third year History student at the University of Durham, set to graduate in July next year. I took the opportunity to complete five weeks of work experience at McClarrons during my summer break, hoping to develop new skills and gain insight into the demands and day-to-day of working life in an office environment.
Working at McClarrons
When I came to McClarrons I had little idea about what I wanted to do in the future and even less understanding of the world of insurance. McClarrons welcomed this uncertainty and introduced me to various sectors of the company and involved me in various meetings and ongoing projects.
Activities undertaken at McClarrons
At McClarrons, I learned to use a range of digital platforms, including Horizon Collaborate, Sage HR, Canva, Acturis, and Excel. I was encouraged to take on various tasks, such as answering the phone, assisting with the daily post run, learning about the employee selection process, sorting and uploading policy data onto Excel, and helping write blog posts. I was also enrolled in valuable software courses such as Acturis Academy and important KnowBe4’s cyber security awareness training. Additionally, I had the opportunity to participate in exciting marketing campaigns, including the creation of a new company brochure and the launch of a new company website.
I was also introduced to all the heads of departments, who helped me learn a lot more about the holistic functioning of the company as well as the insurance sector more broadly. Additionally, I was also shown their more department-specific expectations and roles. This understanding provided me with valuable information to consider when thinking about my own professional future.
To gain more broad and varied insight into the business and the insurance sector, I was involved in various meetings and events. This included shadowing the in-house Claims Team and learning how they handle claims, interact with clients, and advocate for them. I also spent time in different departments, attended the monthly staff meetings and team catch-ups, and participated in McClarrons’ sales training day and McClarrons Affinity’s team building day. Observing these meetings and catch-ups allowed me to learn a great deal about how McClarrons’ core values are put into practice, what the company aims to achieve in the future, and how they plan to meet these goals.
My other day to day activities included:
– Locating policy information on Acturis
– Product naming on Excel and Acturis
– Product Governance
– Uploading staff objectives on Sage HR
– Resizing images and editing designs on Canva
– Attending a lunch-time meeting with a representative from Hiscox
– Shadowing the Operations department
– Shadowing McClarrons Affinity Client Advisors
Key learnings and takeaways
Over the last five weeks, I have broadened my understanding of the insurance industry and discovered that there’s much more to it than I initially expected—and it’s actually quite interesting! During my time here, I learned about the importance of inclusive leadership and having a strong sense of mission and values in the workplace. Working alongside team members and gaining practical experience also taught me the value of attention to detail and how crucial it is to be dependable when dealing with clients and colleagues alike. Supporting one another, working hard, being reliable, and continuously striving for progress are key values I will carry with me wherever I go.
Some final thoughts from Ellie
Experiencing first-hand the working environment at McClarrons revealed how they maintain their vision and core values, especially as the business continues to expand. As a newcomer to the working environment, I particularly enjoyed the teamwork and collaboration that takes place at McClarrons. Lastly, I’m very grateful to all the lovely people at McClarrons who went out of their way to help me learn so much more than I knew on day one!
Looking for work experience yourself?
Undertaking work experience during your university summer break can be highly beneficial for several reasons, such as the development of practical and new skills, career exploration and clarity on career goals, networking opportunities, enhanced employability due to a stronger CV and insight into an industry, personal growth through confidence building and time management, and potential job offerings and references.
Overall, undertaking work experience during your university summer break is a strategic move that can help to enhance your career prospects, personal development, and academic performance.
Whether you’re at school, college, or university, we provide a variety of opportunities to gain practical experience and explore potential career paths.
If you’re interested in gaining work experience at McClarrons—whether specifically in the insurance industry or to familiarise yourself with office duties and environments—please feel free to contact us for information on how to apply. Simply email us at recruitment@mcclarroninsurance.com. Alternatively, if you’re interested in a career at McClarrons, learn about our current vacancies here.
