The Graduate Experience

Paul Gooch - R.J. Kiln

DEGREE COURSE
BA (Hons) Politics, University College London

ENTRY TO LLOYD'S MARKET
I stumbled upon the Lloyd's of London website by chance shortly after graduating from UCL. I was taking part in a graduate careers focus group and was asked to give my opinion of the newly-launched Lloyd's graduate website. This sparked my interest in specialist insurance and so I decided to investigate further. The Kiln graduate programme appealed to me as it offered a rounded and comprehensive introduction to the Lloyd's market.

WHAT HAVE I DONE SINCE I JOINED?
During my time on the graduate programme I spent time with Kiln's Life, Aviation, Marine, Accident & Health and Reinsurance underwriting divisions. I have also worked with our Claims and Internal Audit teams. A particular highlight was my one-month placement in our South Africa offices, where I split my time between Johannesburg and Cape Town. Thanks to Kiln's generous study-leave provisions I managed to complete my Advanced Diploma in Insurance (ACII) qualification in two years.

I now work permanently for Kiln Syndicate 1880, which writes Property and Engineering business.

INTERESTS (INSIDE / OUTSIDE WORK)
Where possible I like to combine my sporting interests with travel. Whilst at university I toured Slovenia, Croatia, Latvia and Lithuania with my football team. Earlier this year I travelled to Germany to watch David Haye's (unsuccessful!) heavyweight unification title bout against Wladimir Klitschko. Unfortunately my travelling support of West Ham United is strictly limited to the British Isles!