At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage a diverse construction renewals portfolio and build strong broker relationships.
- Company: Markel, a Fortune 500 company with a people-first culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous bonus, hybrid working, and extensive health benefits.
- Other info: Join a collaborative team with clear opportunities for career growth.
- Why this job: Take ownership of a high-quality portfolio and make a real impact from day one.
- Qualifications: Strong construction underwriting experience and excellent communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham or London (Hybrid – 3 days office)
Build something meaningful. Renew with purpose! At Markel, underwriting is more than a process, it’s about relationships, judgement, and making a real difference. We're looking for an Underwriter – Construction Renewals and as part of our well-respected Construction team, you’ll take ownership of a diverse and established renewals portfolio, working at the heart of a business that puts people first and empowers underwriters to think differently.
This is a pivotal hire into a highly experienced, close-knit team, where your voice will be heard, your expertise trusted, and your impact immediate.
Why this role stands out:
- Take on a ready-made, high-quality renewals portfolio with real ownership from day one
- Join a stable, technically strong team with an excellent market reputation
- Play a key role in maintaining strong broker relationships and high retention levels (87–89%)
- Opportunity to shape how the team evolves, bringing fresh ideas and energy
- Work in a people-first, collaborative culture within a Fortune 500 organisation
What you’ll be doing:
You’ll manage a varied construction renewals portfolio, delivering strong underwriting outcomes while building lasting broker relationships:
- Underwriting renewals and mid-term adjustments within authority
- Managing and retaining a portfolio of construction risks (typically £2.5k–£100k premium range)
- Building strong broker partnerships and delivering outstanding service
- Identifying opportunities to cross-sell and broaden coverage
- Collaborating with technical teams, new business underwriters, and wider stakeholders
- Providing market insight and contributing to underwriting strategy discussions
You’ll work across a broad mix of risks including general construction, electrical, HVAC, and building services, with multi-line exposure across liability, PI, and property sections.
What we’re looking for:
We’re seeking an experienced underwriter who can hit the ground running and bring a proactive, commercial mindset:
- Strong construction underwriting experience, particularly within renewals
- Ability to manage a portfolio autonomously and make sound underwriting decisions
- Confidence in handling broker relationships and phone-based discussions
- Technical knowledge across liability, PI, and combined construction packages
- A detail-oriented, disciplined approach with strong communication skills
You’ll stand out if you bring:
- Experience handling complex or combined construction risks
- A passion for building relationships and influencing outcomes
- Fresh perspective, energy, and a desire to make an impact
What you’ll get in return:
- Competitive salary + generous annual bonus
- Hybrid working (3 days in office)
- Private medical, dental, pension, life assurance & income protection
- 25 days holiday + buy/sell options
- A genuinely collaborative, down-to-earth culture
- Clear opportunity to step into a highly visible, impactful role
Why Markel?
We’re a global business with a distinctly human approach. Our underwriters are trusted to make decisions, challenge thinking, and build meaningful partnerships.
Our values guide everything we do:
- We’re all about people
- We win together
- We strive for better
- We enjoy the everyday
- We think further
Ready to make your mark? If you’re a construction underwriter looking for ownership, visibility, and the chance to shape outcomes in a high-performing renewals team, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now and help us build something special at Markel.
Markel celebrates the value of a diverse workforce that brings experience and expertise from a wide variety of backgrounds and life circumstances. Whatever your background, if you feel you meet the requirements of this role then we want to hear from you. We are also happy to consider candidates who are looking for flexible working patterns.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided with all reasonable accommodations to be able to participate in the job application or interview process and to perform essential job functions if successful. Please contact us via email at rec@markel.com or call us at 0161 507 5827 to request any accommodations that may be needed. This includes any alternative formats of any documents or information on how to apply offline.
Underwriter - Construction Renewals employer: Markel
At Markel, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a collaborative and people-first culture that empowers our underwriters to make impactful decisions. With a competitive salary, generous benefits including private medical and dental care, and a clear path for career growth, our Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, or London locations provide a vibrant environment for professional development. Join us to take ownership of a diverse renewals portfolio while building meaningful relationships in a stable, high-performing team.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Underwriter - Construction Renewals
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, especially those who work with construction underwriting. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings that might not be advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research Markel and their approach to underwriting. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their values and how you can contribute to their team from day one.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your relationship-building skills! During interviews, share examples of how you've successfully managed broker relationships in the past. This will highlight your fit for the role and the importance of collaboration at Markel.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the Markel family.
We think you need these skills to ace Underwriter - Construction Renewals
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Construction:When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for the construction industry shine through. We want to see how your experience aligns with our focus on building strong broker relationships and delivering outstanding service.
Tailor Your CV and Cover Letter:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for this role. Highlight your relevant underwriting experience, especially in renewals, and demonstrate how you can bring fresh ideas to our team. We love seeing candidates who take the time to connect their skills with what we do!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your key achievements and skills are easy to spot. This helps us quickly understand how you can contribute to our people-first culture.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at Markel.
How to prepare for a job interview at Markel
✨Know Your Portfolio Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the types of construction risks you'll be managing. Familiarise yourself with the premium ranges and specific underwriting criteria. This will not only show your expertise but also demonstrate your readiness to take ownership from day one.
✨Build Rapport with Brokers
Since maintaining strong broker relationships is key in this role, think about how you can showcase your relationship-building skills during the interview. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed broker partnerships in the past and be ready to discuss your approach to communication and service.
✨Showcase Your Technical Knowledge
Brush up on your technical knowledge across liability, PI, and combined construction packages. Be prepared to discuss how you’ve applied this knowledge in previous roles, especially in making sound underwriting decisions. This will highlight your capability to handle complex risks effectively.
✨Bring Fresh Ideas to the Table
Markel values fresh perspectives, so think about how you can contribute to the team's evolution. Prepare to share any innovative ideas or strategies you've implemented in past roles that could enhance underwriting processes or improve broker relationships.
