More Professional Qualifications for BIB Staff

A North East company’s commitment to developing its staff has paid off with four gaining a prestigious industry qualification.

BiB insurance brokers and underwriters in Darlington give staff two hours out of their working week to study for professional exams, as well as providing a tutor to coach them through their studies.

Now four members of staff have paid the company back by passing their Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) diploma.

One of them, law graduate Colin Thompson, joined BiB Underwriters as a temporary worker.

He was soon appointed to a full time job as a claims negotiator and has now passed his diploma just three and a half years later, one of the quickest journeys from starting to being qualified of anyone in the company.

Operations manager Andrew Spencer and senior farm underwriter Gillian Wade, from BiB Underwriters based in Valley Street, and claims handler at Northgate-based BiB insurance brokers Neale Wytcherley also achieved the diploma.

The different modules of the course they undertook include business practice, insurance law, property and pecuniary underwriting.

Corporate broker Jackie Barron tutors and supports the trainees and latest ‘graduates’.

Andrew said: “Whether or not you pass the diploma, you cannot fail to take a lot from the coursework and learn things that help you improve the way you do your job.”

BiB business development director Denis Pinnegar said: “It is vitally important to have well motivated staff who are passionate about the industry in which they work. Encouraging them, and giving them the opportunity, to develop professionally is a major contributory factor.

“Most importantly, having as many team members as possible at BiB insurance brokers and BiB Underwriters undertake and pass professional training means our customers can be confident that they are being served by advisors who are qualified to the highest level.”