Alistair Cottle
New Zealander Alistair Cottle, an Account Executive at Lycetts, has brought his passion for the outdoors to his adopted home of Edinburgh. Later this year, he’s swimming the English Channel. “I’m training fairly lightly at the moment,” he says. “Just 20km a week or so.”What do you do in your day job?
Lycetts predominantly looks after rural insurance, such as for farms and estates around the UK. This can include everything from building and contents insurance to shooting liability and farming activities. I look after Scottish estates while also developing the commercial side, as many of our clients are keen to keep their personal and business insurance together.
How do you make sure your career goes swimmingly?
I’m a firm believer in honesty and integrity with both clients and insurers. On the client side, you need to understand what they want and need, and also be empathetic when it comes to claims as it can be a stressful time for them.
When did you decide to swim the Channel?
I was setting goals at the beginning of last year and I wrote this idea down. At first it was a bit of a laugh, but the thought stayed with me and I looked into it. I started training in February 2007 and recently completed the six-hour qualifying swim. As summer approaches, my training is going to increase, with open-water swims in Zurich, Loch Lomond and Lake Windermere already planned. I’m booked in to do the real thing in September.
Are you in over your head?
I used to be a competitive swimmer so I’m not starting completely from scratch! It will take about 14 hours to cross – that’s 50,000 strokes in water between 16 and 22 degrees Celsius. Although the swim is long, it’s not actually the physical part that prevents people from making it – there are also the tides, jellyfish, the temperature and the international shipping lines. Some people get freaked out about it, but personally I can’t wait!
What challenges are yet to be met?
The cost of swimming the Channel is about £3,000, while additional training costs escalate this further, so I’m looking for additional corporate sponsorship. I’m grateful to Lycetts and Hiscox, which have both already contributed substantial amounts. I’m also swimming to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. If anyone would like to contribute even a small amount, click here
The CV
| 1995–2000 | MSc (Psychology) at Otago University, New Zealand |
| 2001–2003 | CGU Insurance, Domestic Underwriter |
| 2003–2005 | OAMPS Insurance, Account Executive |
| 2005–present | Lycetts Insurance Brokers, Account Executive |