Crawford offers young people a range of pathways that can lead to fulfilling careers. Take the example of Sophie Scott, whose application for a temporary post straight out of university opened a gateway into the insurance industry.
Suzanne Ferguson, UK head of property & operational excellence, hired Sophie on a six-month contract for an interim post at Crawford in June 2023. The short-term position suited Sophie, who had just graduated from John Moores University with a degree in marketing and had sought some interesting but interim work before heading off on a post-graduate trip to Australia.
Sophie started in the first-notification-of-loss (FNOL) team in Belfast, registering claims and arranging adjuster appointments. She quickly picked up an understanding of the claims process and demonstrated the necessary empathy with customers, recalls Suzanne, who adds: “She was also a great fit with the team and we knew early on that we’d genuinely miss her when she went to Australia.”
Sophie enjoyed the internship and told her line manager she’d be interested in working with Crawford again once she’d returned from her travels, especially in marketing and communication.
After Sophie returned home in April 2024, Suzanne contacted her to offer a placement as a service delivery graduate, which Sophie accepted. Recognising Sophie’s marketing preferences, Suzanne allowed her to split her time between the service delivery role and the global marketing and communications team.
“This definitely became a two-way street,” recalls Suzanne. “Yes, Sophie was able to apply her degree on projects for the marketing and communications team – but my own team certainly benefited from Sophie’s analytical skills and the fresh viewpoint she brought to the claims arena, too.”
Sophie seized the opportunity to make her mark, undertaking a project on the role of a loss adjuster and a deep dive into the broker market in Northern Ireland. She delivered her findings in an “outstanding presentation” to the property management team in Northern Ireland, Suzanne recalls.
Sophie said the service delivery role introduced her to the corporate environment, adding:
“It also gave me the chance to learn more about how Crawford operates and also provided real insight into the various business lines and services across the wider operation.”
In December 2024, Sophie was offered a full-time position with the global marketing and communications team at Crawford. She says: “After studying marketing at university, I was thrilled to be able to put my degree to good use for Crawford.”
Crawford is flexible in its internships aimed at those wishing to explore the dynamic world of insurance. Options include a six-eight week summer placement, industrial work experience, year-long salaried internship or part-time engagement. We are currently working to make the internship and work experience program bigger and better.
