The International Underwriting Association (IUA) has launched a new online hub to address a growing need in the London insurance market to develop, not just recruit, early-career talent.
The platform brings together information on training sessions, networking events and professional development initiatives under the IUA Futures programme, which is aimed at underwriting and claims practitioners at the start of their careers.
“There has been much recent attention on the London Market’s need to boost its recruitment of new talent, but it is just as important to ensure those people entering the market are trained and developed effectively. This is what the IUA Futures programme seeks to achieve. We are looking to furnish people with the essential skills and professional networks they need to establish successful careers,” said Ela Metalia (pictured), who leads the programme after joining the IUA in 2022.
“Our programme connects NextGen practitioners with senior industry figures, who can share practical knowledge and expertise. The new IUA Futures online hub will be a central resource for our growing range of opportunities,” Metalia added.
The IUA Futures programme includes a series of training activities scheduled for 2026, covering both technical and operational areas of the London Market.
Among these are claims bootcamps organised by the IUA’s NextGen Claims Committee, structured across three sessions introducing market processes, claims handling fundamentals and professional skills. The first session took place on February 26, 2026, with further sessions scheduled for April 7 and May 5 at the Cavendish Conference Centre in London.
Policy wordings masterclasses, hosted by the IUA’s Clauses Committee, will address issues linked to drafting insurance contracts. Four sessions are scheduled in 2026, including case law review, delegated authority, practical drafting and premium payment or long-term agreements.
An underwriting essentials session on March 26, 2026 will examine “losses occurring” and “claims made” policy structures, outlining how each operates and identifying considerations such as notification requirements, prior knowledge exclusions and business interruption.
Online training sessions are also scheduled, including an electronic claims files session on April 22 and a single claims agreement party session on May 27.
Alongside technical training, the programme includes networking events across multiple classes of business. These sessions are organised with support from IUA committees and involve discussion groups led by senior market figures.
Networking breakfasts planned for 2026 include events for directors and officers underwriting, professional lines, personal accident and health, surety and contingency risks, with dates across March and April.
The IUA Futures initiative also includes NextGen committees that provide a formal structure for practitioners to meet peers and discuss industry issues. This includes aviation underwriting and claims committees, which jointly organise an annual conference featuring presentations on market topics.
The IUA has also made available material outlining career opportunities in environmental insurance, providing guidance on roles across underwriting, claims and broking.
The document identifies areas of specialisation including construction and engineering, energy and renewables, manufacturing, real estate and property development, waste and recycling, and agriculture and food production. It describes how underwriters assess environmental risks and design insurance solutions, while claims professionals handle incidents such as contamination and flooding.
It also outlines the role of brokers in advising clients on environmental exposures and arranging appropriate cover across sectors.
The new online hub is designed to serve as a single access point for IUA Futures activities, including event registration, programme updates and learning resources.
The association said the platform brings together its range of initiatives to support early-career professionals in building technical knowledge and establishing professional connections within the London Market.
