You could take a degree before applying for a place on an insurance company's training scheme. Relevant degrees include:

• business studies
• finance
• surveying
• engineering

It will help to get some relevant work experience whilst you're studying, for example through an internship.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

You could get into this this job through an insurance professional higher apprenticeship.

This typically takes about 24 months to complete with a mix of workplace learning and study.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

Employers often prefer to take on trainees with a minimum of GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), including English and maths, and A levels. IT skills are also important.

You would usually start in one of the following jobs:

• insurance technician
• junior account handler
• trainee broker

You could work your way up to broker as you get experience and insurance industry qualifications, for example, through the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII).

The CII qualifications offer study units relevant to the insurance areas you specialise in, for example marine, commercial or general insurance. Examples of qualifications include:

• CII Level 3 Certificate in Insurance - for trainee brokers
• CII Diploma in Insurance
• CII Advanced Diploma in Insurance

If you have a degree, you could join a large insurance broking firm's graduate training scheme.

Most degree subjects are accepted, but a business or maths degree may give you an advantage, as there is often a lot of competition for places.

You'll need:

• customer service skills
• the ability to sell products and services
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to use your initiative
• persistence and determination
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• excellent verbal communication skills
• maths knowledge
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

In your day-to-day duties you could:

• gather information from clients to assess their insurance needs and risk
• research insurance policies
• arrange insurance cover for clients
• negotiate the best policy terms with insurers
• renew or change existing policies
• make sure all business and paperwork meets legal requirements
• advise customers who are making a claim
• use IT systems to keep records and prepare documents
• prepare case reports for insurance underwriters and surveyors

You could work in an office.