Statement of personal achievement

Example 7 – Phillip Painter, Pin: 0012115521S

Overview

Having successfully completed my ACII qualification in 1992 my progression within TNL Insurance Brokers was more than satisfactory and the prevailing view within the organisation and in the industry generally at that time, was that further qualifications were not strictly necessary and the emphasis was more on developing the business than the staff. However, my career hit a plateau in 1997 and personal circumstances led me to remain within the organisation rather than move on. In 2001, I determined to improve my circumstances and, recognising that I needed to boost my self-confidence and self-esteem, I embarked upon a part-time MBA degree as both a personal challenge and an opportunity to improve my overall grasp of business methods and practices. At around the same time I was offered the opportunity to take charge of a project to research, establish and implement a Quality Management System within TNL. Shortly afterwards I was also asked to oversee the implementation of a replacement IT software system.

Fellowship Plan

Towards the end of my degree course, the potential implications of the FSA regulations coming into force in January 2005 for the General Insurance sector, meant that further insurance qualifications took on a far greater significance within the industry and I realised that achieving FCII status would enhance my career opportunities, particularly in addition to the MBA. My Fellowship plan was therefore formulated in the early part of 2004 when I established that I was in a position to utilise my degree as the major achievement and saw an opportunity to complete the FCII process in a relatively short space of time by embarking upon the BEP as soon as I had finished my university studies and could take advantage of continuing the ‘academic’ thought processes.

There have been no changes to the plan, as it was only formally drawn up very recently and those objectives within the Plan that had not already been attained were felt to be attainable quickly. I appreciate that the intention of the Fellowship plan is to provide a framework within which the applicant can demonstrate their development within the industry and, whilst the objectives of my development were not specifically aimed at the industry but rather at self-improvement, I feel that the opportunities that I have now created for myself will also be of benefit to my employers and the industry as a whole.

Key learning points

The MBA course has undoubtedly been the main source of learning since 2001 with modules including project management, strategic management, managing people and managing change being particularly useful during the three year period as one of the primary aims of the course was the application of knowledge into the workplace. The knowledge gained, together with my improved self-confidence, contributed greatly to the successful implementation of both a Quality Management System to ISO 9000/2000 and a completely new IT software system within the general insurance division over a two year period between 2001 and 2003.

My employers were not supportive of my MBA studies, either financially or morally, but I determined to make the necessary sacrifices of time and money knowing that it would be to my ultimate benefit and, indirectly, that of my current or future employers. I see my ultimate success as a substantial personal achievement that has taught me valuable lessons in terms of the ability to work effectively in challenging circumstances.

Further important learning points were created in 2000 and 2001, when I was fortunate enough to be selected to attend courses provided by Royal & Sun Alliance focusing on leadership and strategic planning that had whetted my appetite for learning through an emphasis on challenging accepted concepts, collaborating to achieve, and passing on knowledge. This latter aspect has continued through the mentoring and training that I have helped to establish within the organisation over the last 2/3 years as evidenced in my CPD record.

Key skills and knowledge acquired

The MBA and the two major projects mentioned above have provided me with numerous opportunities for the development and improvement of a number of key skills. Having left full time education in 1978 the emphasis on research skills within the MBA meant that I was better prepared for the planning aspects of the two projects. Each involved drawing up and working to project plans that required adjustment as changes in the business strategy impacted on timescales or the availability of resources. I improved my leadership and team-working skills as it became necessary to co-ordinate a number of staff and other resources in various ways that accommodated the successful implementation of the projects. As a result of my successful implementation of the IT software system I now have the responsibility for the co-ordination of IT issues within the division, working with the specialist personnel in the IT division.

My communication skills have also improved as I have been involved in creating and giving numerous presentations to management and staff in order to ensure that there was a high level of awareness of the changes taking place and the effects they would have on the working practices within the division. In addition, I have been directly involved in the creation and delivery of training plans to prepare the staff for the introduction of the new systems/procedures.

My knowledge of marketing and customer relationship management within the insurance industry has been enhanced through the work that I carried out for the MBA dissertation which, through the statistical analysis of responses to a questionnaire from both brokers and customers, sought to determine whether the services provided by brokers matched the service expectations of the customers.

Intentions for the future

My current role offers the opportunity to continue to utilise and improve the skills that I have developed in terms of researching problems, considering risks, reviewing alternatives and making decisions to effectively support the business strategy. The current and future changes in the general insurance industry following the introduction of the FSA regulations will provide challenges in establishing compliant procedures co-ordinated with IT resources that can assist in safeguarding and advancing the business. In addition, future trading methods will make increasing use of the opportunities offered by e-commerce and improving IT capability, which I feel I will be in a position to help develop together with the senior management, in terms of analysing the needs of the business and seeking to make best use of the available resources by effectively integrating change.

The MBA degree has fired my enthusiasm for learning and applying that knowledge in practical and appropriate circumstances. The Business Ethics Programme has been of considerable interest and I will continue to actively seek out other topics that can be applied to the business environment. I am hoping that my current position and responsibilities will develop as my agreed objectives are achieved. I hope to be able to carry out some additional formal study of e-commerce, specifically within the insurance industry, in the next twelve months as I firmly believe that the brokers who will be successful in the future will be those that develop greater levels of professionalism and expertise in terms of their ability to provide high levels of service, but at the same time focus on providing value for their clients.