Careers and culture
Why work at Howden?
People come to Howden for lots of different reasons, but they all 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.
Employee ownership means independence and empowerment.
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.
The entrepreneurial atmosphere is one of the biggest reasons people love to work for Howden.
We have a noticeably flat hierarchy for a global organisation of such size and scope. It comes from the way the group has grown over the last 30 years, with mergers with like-minded companies done in a spirit of collaborative independence.
Own your destiny.
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.
Whatever your priorities – work/life balance, improving the world, or progressing your career – you'll find like-minded people driving change here at Howden.
I enjoy my work but at the same time have the comfort that my colleagues I work with, are not just colleagues but also friends that I can see myself spending the rest of my life working with and enjoying it together
Not only the people, but the facilities, the mindset, the support and the projects (such as our partnership with the British & Irish Lions) mean it is by far the best place I’ve worked. We joke on our team, regarding everyone wanting to be the best at what we do, by saying "#ThatsHowden" but it is – it’s true. It’s an exceptional company.
Read more about our group sponsorships with The British & Irish Lions and Ascot Racecourse here.
I've worked for a few top-tier brokers in the past, and can honestly say that working at Howden outshines them all. Working with all the great people in this company makes you great; you learn a lot, and gain the confidence to achieve.
See how our employees use insurance as a force for good
Lydia Heywood, Equine Development Executive
Hear Lydia share how she juggles her busy schedule of working in our Consumer and Local Commercial business, with her dream to represent Jamaica in Eventing at the Olympic Games. A true example of living our no-limits approach to insurance.
Caroline Birch, Disaster Relief Executive - Climate Risk and Resilience
Caroline Birch shares why after 20+ years of working with humanitarian organisations in disaster zones, she chose to join the Climate Risk and Resilience team at Howden to use insurance as a force for good.
Harry Byrne, Regional Marine Practice Leader - Middle East & Africa
Harry explains how Howden played the crucial role of dealmaker to prevent an environmental catastrophe in the Red Sea, as the London market came together to insure the UN’s efforts to transfer oil from the derelict FSO Safer.
I work with an amazing team, they are more than half the reason I wake up every morning and want to go to work.
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.
Working in an environment that allows me to learn, grow and thrive is something I value very much. Starting my career at Howden has allowed me to do all three and I look forward to seeing what the future holds.
Early careers at Howden
We run a number of early careers schemes and programmes throughout the year. Whether you’re a school leaver, a graduate or someone looking for a career change, get in touch to find out more.
What we’re looking for
There is no one 'Howden personality' type – diversity is important to us. But we have shared values:
- 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.
The people and the entrepreneurial mindset make this a truly unique place to work. We’re empowered to make a difference in all aspects of what we do.
FAQs
If you see a role you like the look of, be sure to apply! You'll be prompted to create an account on our Workday portal, and will then be directed through the process of submitting your application and uploading any required documents.
Make sure to have on hand an up-to-date CV and cover letter, as well as your latest contact information. Should you have questions, please get in touch.
If the role you're looking for isn't advertised, we'd still love to hear from you. Please introduce yourself to us by joining our Talent Community.
Every role is assessed in different ways by different departments, so please bear with us. If you’ve been successful with your application, our in-house recruitment team will be in touch with next steps. You should normally hear back from us within 10 working days.
This can depend on the role, and certain vacancies may take longer than others, especially when we receive a high volume of applicants. If you haven’t heard from us after 10 working days, please feel free to email us so we can give you an update.
Prepare as you normally would for an interview, but remember to bring along any questions you have for us too. We need to be the right fit for you, as well as the other way around. Nonetheless, our dedicated recruitment team will support you through each stage of our hiring process.
Visa or permit sponsorship is assessed on a case-by-case basis – our number of allotted sponsorship licenses can be limited, and visa types require different considerations from the business. Unfortunately, as laws vary in different countries for different roles, we can’t always guarantee that we will be able to provide visas sponsorship or work permits.
If we need assistance filling any of the advertised roles, we will contact our approved partner recruitment agencies. If you would like to become one of our approved partners, please contact us.
Please be aware that any unsolicited CVs or candidate profiles will not be subject to agency fees.