Lucy Hardwicke
Described by colleagues as “committed, passionate, helpful and fun”, Lucy has a work-hard, play-hard mentality, which goes hand in hand with her role at Bristol-based broker SBJ. A keen indoor climber, red wine enthusiast and cat fanatic, Lucy believes the human interaction element of the broker’s role should never be replaced: “My experience of clients, especially those spending upwards of six figures, is that they want the security of dealing with a real person rather than a piece of technology,” says LucyWhat inspired you to embark on a career in insurance?
I fell into it having narrowly escaped accountancy and recruitment. Once I arrived, I realised I actually quite liked it!
Describe your job
With my team, I’m responsible for all small to medium new business and renewals.
What do you love and hate about it?
I love the people: the SBJ team is approachable, supportive and, nine times out of 10, we all get on. I hate losing business!
How do you feel you make a difference in terms of the quality and value of service you provide to clients?
Communication really is key. You can’t always provide what clients want but if you can be upfront, keep them up to date and always in the loop,
it’s a sure-fire way to build strong relationships and good business.
How do you think the claims settling service could be improved?
I’m not directly involved but my observation of where it seems to fall apart is when communication breaks down between the client, the broker and the insurer.
What for you is the single most important rule in your line of work?
In work and life in general, treat others as you expect to be treated.
Wave a magic wand over the insurance industry – what would you wish for?
Like many other brokers, I expect, for the market to harden.
Describe a key career moment
Realising I wasn’t cut out for hard selling – I much prefer working with clients to find the best deal rather than pushing products on them.
What three things would you take to survive life on a desert island?
My cat, Chopper, friends/boyfriend and books should keep me entertained.
The CV:
2003 to date: SBJ Professional
2002: Professional Indemnity Group
2001: Computer People IT recruitment