Full-Time

Development Underwriter / Senior Development Underwriter

Bristol Coverage

Posted on 9/5/2025

Hiscox

Hiscox

1,001-5,000 employees

Specialized insurer for high-net-worth risks.

No salary listed

Bristol, UK + 1 more

More locations: Maidenhead, UK

Hybrid

Expected to travel across the Bristol area as required; one day per month in Maidenhead.

Category
Finance & Banking (1)
Requirements
  • Strong experience of performing at a senior underwriter level.
  • A strong track record trading with brokers to deliver growth in the Bristol region.
  • A strong track record in making sound underwriting decisions, driving top and bottom-line growth.
  • A deep understanding of the professional indemnity line of business.
  • Strong communication, relationship management and interpersonal skills with demonstrable ability to effectively influence key stakeholders.
  • Demonstrates a hunger for winning business.
  • Able to make intelligent and innovative business decisions.
  • An appreciation and understanding of legal and regulatory guidelines.
  • Ideally ACII qualified or exempt through relevant experience as defined by the FCA.
Responsibilities
  • Being recognised as an experienced underwriter within your region by your brokers, owning a broker panel for development.
  • Underwriting larger, more complex commercial cases consistently and profitably.
  • Leading the setting and execution of the local underwriting strategy for your specialist area in conjunction with the Regional Manager and Regional Underwriting Manager.
  • Influencing the UK Product Heads on underwriting appetite and strategy.
  • Leading underwriting in your specialist area by taking referrals of more complex risks (possibly from outside the region).
  • Leading underwriting and sales visits to larger clients and prospects.
  • Ensuring that the target retention rate for the region is achieved, handling some cases yourself.
  • Developing close, effective relationships with brokers to develop new opportunities to significantly contribute to the team new business targets.
  • Increasing submission & conversion numbers through large client prospecting.
  • Building product specific knowledge and sales skills amongst underwriters.
  • Understanding of the underwriting lifecycle including policy wordings, pricing & claims.
  • Understanding of pricing a risk and the factors that can affect pricing.
  • Good knowledge of the insurance market, industry, competitors, brokers and factors that can affect the market including soft/hard markets.
Desired Qualifications
  • Ideally ACII qualified or exempt through relevant experience as defined by the FCA.

Hiscox is a specialized insurer that focuses on high-net-worth individuals and complex, niche risks (including fine art, kidnapping, and other unconventional coverages). It underwrites and issues insurance policies through its global operations, built on Lloyd's heritage and expanded after re-domiciling to Bermuda to operate in 13 countries. Its products work by assessing and underwriting tailored insurance contracts for specific, often hard-to-place risks, with coverage and claims handling aligned to the insured’s needs. The company differentiates itself from competitors by concentrating on specialized, hard-to-place risks rather than mass-market insurance, maintaining independence, and leveraging deep underwriting expertise and a global footprint. Its goal is to grow as a focused, independent specialist insurer that serves ambitious clients worldwide and expands its geographic reach and capabilities.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

London, United Kingdom

Founded

1901

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Attracted $1B ILS capital in Q1 2026, growing AUM to $2.4B in catastrophe bonds.
  • Retail premiums rose 10.2% to £1.7B in Q1 2026, driven by 8% US and UK growth.
  • Acquires US insurtech Vouch and launches Cargo API on June 30, 2025 for digital underwriting.

What critics are saying

  • Softening cat reinsurance rates cut net premiums 5.6% in Q1 2026, eroding Hiscox Re margins.
  • Pen-Zurich-Hiscox partnership floods UK non-standard home capacity, slashing quirky property premiums.
  • Vouch acquisition triggers regulatory delays and integration failures within 3-6 months.

What makes Hiscox unique

  • Hiscox specializes in insuring complex risks like fine art and kidnapping since 1970s.
  • Roots in Lloyd's of London since 1901 enable underwriting non-standard marine and specialty lines.
  • Focuses on high-net-worth quirky UK homes via April 2026 Pen-Zurich partnership.

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Benefits

Flexible Work Hours

Hybrid Work Options

Company News

Yahoo Finance
Feb 25th, 2026
Hiscox posts record profit of $733M as retail segment drives growth with 7.5% customer increase

Hiscox reported record profitability for 2025, with group insurance contract written premiums rising 5.9% to $275 million year-on-year. The insurer's undiscounted combined ratio improved to 87.8%, its best in a decade, driving a record insurance service result of $614 million. Profit before tax reached a record $733 million, up 6.9%, whilst operating return on tangible equity stood at 20.9%. Investment results hit $443 million, supported by strong yields and higher assets under management. Retail premiums grew 6.3% in constant currency to over $2.6 billion, driven by 7.5% customer growth rather than pricing. The London Market returned to growth with premiums up 1.6%, maintaining its undiscounted combined ratio in the 80s for the sixth consecutive year. Management emphasised underwriting discipline and product innovation across the diversified portfolio.

Hiscox
Aug 14th, 2025
Hiscox appoints new Group Head of Technical Claims

London, UK (14 August 2025): Leading global specialist insurer, Hiscox, today announces the appointment of Matthew Budd to the newly created role of Group Head of Technical Claims.

Insurance Journal
Aug 6th, 2025
Hiscox Agrees to Acquire US Specialist Insurtech

As part of the transaction, Hiscox is acquiring Corix Insurance Services LLC and Vouch Insurance Company from Vouch Inc. subject to customary conditions and regulatory approvals.

Hiscox
Jun 30th, 2025
Hiscox launches Cargo API for small cargo and stock throughput risks

London, UK (30 June 2025): Leading global specialist insurer, Hiscox, has launched a new Cargo API (application programming interface) based solution, available through broker partners for underwriting small cargo and stock throughput risks.

Reinsurance News
Jun 16th, 2025
Hiscox appoints Harriet Hanna as COO of Lloyd's managing agent HSL

Based in London and reporting to Hiscox London Market CEO Kate Markham, Hanna succeeds Adam Rushin, who is retiring after more than 25 years of distinguished service with Hiscox.

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