My life in insurance: Peter Dedman

This jive talkin’ Personal Lines Manager knows how to grabthe audience’s attention with his Bee Gees tribute band

Why a career in insurance?
I’m not really sure! I left stage school in 1996 trained as a West End singer, but I didn’t like the monotony of doing the same show day-in day-out. I’d always been interested in cars, so, when the opportunity came to work in motor insurance, I knew nothing about insurance but a lot about vehicles so I thought I would give it a go.
 
Describe your average working day
You never know what challenges may occur from one day to the next. I run a busy department, so my job consists of making sure all the work gets processed accurately and quickly, talking to clients, supporting my staff and providing advice to them when required. I also spend time visiting new clients to obtain new business opportunities – and, of course, providing financial reports to the company
directors and looking for ways to grow the business.
 
What attracted you to the Bee Gees tribute band?
I missed the buzz of performing and when I saw the advert looking for a singer for a Bee Gees tribute band, I applied. I had no idea that we would be so successful, but I suppose I was in the right place at the right time. Together, the three of us have developed the show during the past ten years as we all have knowledge of different musical areas.
 
You must have lots of confidence to get up on stage in front of all those people – does this help you when it comes to dealing with your clients?
Yes, but I also think you get confidence by being good at what you do. I have been performing a lot longer than I have been working in insurance so I have gained confidence by working hard in the industry.
 
What is coming up for your band?
More touring: we are performing in Denmark and around Holland and Italy during the next few months. The biggest challenge this year is the development of a new 80s tribute show for our promoter, which I have to choreograph and stage. This should be a lot of fun as we are doing songs from different artists from the 80s and we will have video screens rather than a live band, so it will be very different to the Bee Gees show.

The CV

1997 – 2000: Moffatt Saunders, Motor Clerk
2000 – 2003: Personal Lines Clerk
2003 – 2006: Motor Insurance Supervisor
2006 – present: Personal Lines Manager