Glasgow's miles better for insurance jobs

Underwriting jobs are flooding onto the market in Scotland, with most of the vacancies on the west coast.

This week, there are openings for mortgage underwriters at MoneyQuest and sub-prime mortgage underwriters at Switch Recruitment. AXA Insurance is looking for commercial risk underwriters, as are Cairngorm Management Ltd and AM Recruitment. Royal Bank of Scotland, meanwhile, has vacancies in its commercial property team.

The bulk of the jobs are based in Glasgow, especially on the general insurance side.

According to government agency Careers Scotland, novice insurance underwriters can earn between 18k and 24.5k a year, rising to between 34.5k and 46k with experience. Higher earners can make around 94.5k a year.

Posts in commercial rather than personal lines business tend to command the higher salaries, but underwriters at many firms will be able to add to their basic package with profit sharing or a company bonus, and may also be offered a discounted mortgage, medical and life insurance, as well as a pension.

Diane O'Neil, divisional manager at Change CRS, is currently looking for a number of commercial underwriters in Glasgow, for a client which is undergoing rapid expansion. She says she has had clients seeking underwriters to service existing business, as well as some looking for people to bring in new underwriting business.

O'Neil concludes: "If you are a commercial underwriter in Glasgow at the moment, then opportunities are good."