Business Development Executive

Who are we?

Howden is a collective – a group of talented and passionate people all around the world. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mind-set, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of over 20,000 employees spanning over 100 countries.

Our people are our biggest asset as well as our largest shareholder group and are everything that makes us unique; our inclusive culture, the quality service we offer our clients, and our continued growth, all come from our people-first approach. There’s no such thing as individual success. We all need to play our part, contributing our skills and experience to make a true difference. That’s Howden.

Why work at Howden?

We have always been employee-owned and driven by entrepreneurial spirit. Right from the beginning, we've focused on employing talented individuals and empowering them to make a real difference to the company, whilst building successful and fulfilling careers at the same time. Simply put, we hire talented specialists and give them what they need to make a difference for clients. Always have, always will.

People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down disappointed head-hunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work/life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

The Role

The Business Development Executive position is an entry-level role, and no prior insurance knowledge is required. You will be reaching out to businesses of all sizes across the UK to discuss how Howden can meet their insurance needs. In this role, you’ll gain experience in discussing insurance requirements and presenting Howden’s comprehensive support from start to finish in the insurance process. You'll help expand our client base and contribute to our mission of delivering exceptional insurance solutions to every business.

This role offers a competitive base salary plus attractive On Target Earnings (OTE) based on performance metrics.

Whether it’s providing insurance coverage for a local tradesperson or negotiating a comprehensive insurance program for a global enterprise, Howden is at the forefront of the industry—and it all begins with a Business Development Executive making that first call.

What you’ll do

• Achieve key sales metrics and targets, contributing to a performance-based OTE incentive.
• Contact potential clients to promote Howden and obtain their insurance information to support in negotiations with clients and insurers.
• Identify and develop sources of potential clients to expand our market reach.
• Support brokers with potential new clients.
• Accurately record and maintain the database as well as company records in a timely fashion, ensuring all information is up to date.
• Gain exposure to and acquire general insurance knowledge, including working towards your CII insurance qualifications.
• Participate in training and development focused on the core skills required for the role.
• Be part of a dynamic and constantly evolving environment with lots of learning opportunities.

Who we’re looking for

• Strong motivation towards starting out a career in insurance.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills. Our team thrives on effective communication and the ability to work together towards common goals.
• Sales and negotiation skills that will help you compete in a fast-paced market.
• Strong motivation and ambition in progressing into a career in insurance.
• An eye for detail to ensure that all records and client interactions are meticulously managed and maintained.
• A positive and proactive attitude, ready to take on challenges and determine the best paths to success.
• A commitment to continuous learning and development, with the ambition to grow within the company.

What do we offer in return?

A career that you define.

Our business succeeds by allowing our people to make a mark in the areas they care about most: personal development, volunteering, and fundraising for charity, or creating new insurance products that address society’s greatest challenges.

And we know that separate home and work lives don't really exist. If you're happy and healthy at home, you're more likely to be happy and fulfilled at work – and vice versa. That's why we do our best to support our people in every aspect of their lives.

Diversity and Inclusion

At Howden we value diversity - there is no one Howden ‘personality type’. Instead, we’re looking for individuals who share the same values as us:

• Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new
• We support each other, in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges
• We are determined to make a positive difference, at work and beyond

We consider our people our chief competitive advantage and as such we treat colleagues, candidates, clients, and business partners with equality, fairness, and respect – regardless of age, disability, race, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, or family circumstances.

Reasonable adjustments

We're committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs. Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours* or hybrid working*.

If you're excited by this role but have some doubts about whether it’s the right fit for you, send us your application – if your profile fits the role’s criteria, we will be in touch to assist in helping to get you set up with any reasonable adjustments you may require.

*Not all positions can accommodate changes to working hours or locations. Reach out to your Recruitment Partner if you want to know more.

Our sustainability promise

We’re on a life-long journey to become an ever-more sustainable group. It's a commitment to taking care of our people and the world we live in, to doing good business, and to making a positive impact wherever we can. Our governance processes, company policies, and review systems are all geared towards our goal of making a positive impact in the world. You can read more about our sustainability work here.