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ERS invests in talent and technology in Swansea counter fraud team

ERS, the UK’s largest specialist motor insurer with a 75-year history, has announced plans to significantly strengthen its counter fraud team in its Swansea office by investing in both people and technology.

The move is designed to help the company get ahead in the changing nature of claims and has two objectives: to identify and prevent more instances of fraud – leading to lower premiums for customers – and to create new fraud prevention career opportunities in Swansea.

In January this year, Tom Cummings joined the group as Head of Counter Fraud, taking charge of ERS’ strategy for tackling policy and claims fraud. Since his arrival, the counter fraud team has grown by 25%, with further expansion planned. ERS has also made significant investments in technology, including exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) might be used to detect fraud and to streamline operations.

Investments are crucial, as rising levels of fraud is one of the biggest drivers of high motor insurance premiums. ERS’s zero-tolerance approach to insurance fraud and its methods of tackling fraud, help reduce costs for customers. Fraud is also becoming more complex, with the industry facing more cases involving “shallow fakes” (edited images to exaggerate damage) and “deep fakes” (AI generated images) designed to inflate repair costs.

Tom Cummings, Head of Counter Fraud, said:

“Fraud is changing rapidly because of technology. We need better strategies, better knowledge, and better tools to stay ahead. Using AI will play a part of that. Reducing fraud claims not only helps our business but also leads to fairer premiums for customers.”

The investment also supports job growth in Swansea bringing a career in counter fraud to the region.

ERS’s Swansea office, based in Crucible Park, employs nearly 500 professionals across various roles, including claims, underwriting, IT, governance, and compliance. Since expanding its Swansea presence in 2014, the company has become a major player in the financial sector in South Wales, offering high-skilled roles and career development opportunities.

Jodie Aucamp, Talent Resourcer at ERS, said:

“We’ve put a lot of effort into growing our Swansea office over the past few years because we’re committed to bringing in and nurturing local talent. We want to give people of all ages a chance to build exciting careers with us. Our latest investment in our counter fraud department is just another step in that direction.”

ERS is part of IQUW Group, one of the largest Managing Agencies at Lloyd’s of London, operating from Swansea, London, and Bermuda. The Group handles a diverse range of business from motor to property, energy and marine to reinsurance. Through this global network, ERS is committed to fostering talent and driving innovation in the industry.

If you’re interested in joining the team, you can check out the available roles and apply through the Careers page on the ERS website.

Business News, Education News, Insurance

ERS Unveils Swansea Trainee Underwriter Programme to Boost Career Opportunities

ERS, the UK’s leading specialist motor insurer with a rich 75-year history, has introduced a Trainee Underwriter Programme at its Swansea office. This initiative is designed to foster new career opportunities in underwriting for aspiring professionals in Wales.

In April, the first group of trainee underwriters joined the programme which offers a mix of practical training and academic studies, leading to industry-recognised insurance qualifications accredited by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). All trainees get the opportunity to spend time in London, gaining both insights into the insurance industry and Lloyd’s of London operations.

ERS is situated in its spacious Crucible Park office in Swansea Vale and has nearly 500 employees. Since its significant investment in Swansea in 2014, ERS has enhanced local job opportunities, aiming to be the employer of choice in South Wales’s financial sector.

This Trainee Underwriter Programme builds on ERS’s Underwriting Academy which opened in 2020, expanding career paths for its employees and local talent. Designed to be rewarding, challenging, and enjoyable, it integrates with ERS’s diverse roles in claims, project management, business analysis, IT, counter fraud, personal injury, and risk governance.

As part of the IQUW Group, operating in Swansea, London, and Bermuda, the group wrote over $1.3 billion of specialty business in 2023 with ERS focusing on specialist motor and IQUW on property and specialty insurance and reinsurance. IQUW has a diverse range of insurance products, including Aviation, Cyber, Cargo, Crisis Management, Marine, Political Risk, Energy, Property, D&O, Financial Institutions, Political Violence, Terror and War risks written from the London office. They also provide Reinsurance for Property Treaty International, US-specific Reinsurance, and Specialty Reinsurance, written in London and Bermuda. This diversity allows ERS experts to explore various areas of insurance and reinsurance.

Jodie Aucamp, Talent Resourcer at ERS, highlights the syndicate’s investment in Swansea and their commitment to local talent: “Our new Trainee Underwriter Programme is a key addition to the varied roles we offer in Swansea, providing long-term career growth opportunities.”

Cameron Jackson’s journey demonstrates ERS’s career pathways. Starting as an underwriting assistant in Swansea, he progressed through the Underwriting Academy to become a qualified underwriter and subsequently joined the London office. Jackson praised the company’s supportive culture and the diverse, enriching nature of underwriting.

“There will always be a need for insurance and underwriters, making this a rewarding and secure career choice,” Jackson said, emphasising the limitless pathways in underwriting.

If you’re interested in any of the roles available at ERS, please visit their careers webpage.