Meet the Consultant… Emily Doull-Reeves, Lawes Consulting Group

Emily Doull-Reeves, Senior Consultant, deals with the Birmingham team’s Underwriting and Claims specialists, advising Insurers, MGA’s, Underwriting Agencies and Claims Management service providers on all aspects of recruitment and human capital attraction as well as working with market candidates from entry level to senior management within these disciplines. We spoke to Emily about what’s involved in her role and how the market has changed over the last 12 months…

What was it that led you to Lawes Consulting Group?

In 2017 I moved to Birmingham and I just so happened to upload my CV to Lawes’s site as I was already working in insurance and looking for a new role, either a broking or an account handling position. I met with the team at Lawes and ended up working for them instead!

I really like the technical side of insurance, something the team laughs at me for, but I find it interesting; so, the position at Lawes really sparked my interest because it would give me the opportunity to look at other aspects of the industry while still having my foot in the door.

What does a typical day look like for you?

My day-to-day consists of either jobs coming in from clients whose PSL list we sit on, or I will be approaching clients on behalf of a candidate. I work on a specialist-search basis; I am always looking for a specific person, with a specific background that will fit the requirements of the job. Underwriting is a technical area of insurance, so we need to find candidates that can specialise.

When taking on a role, we will do a full registration with the client, such as asking them what they’re looking for, what they’re not looking for… We need to make sure we have as much detail as possible to ensure that we are looking for the right candidate. From there I will do a candidate search, which involves liaising with potential candidates and finding out a bit more about their lines of business. I want to make sure that when I send through a longlist/shortlist to my client, that they have at least 4-5 CVs of candidates that I know match exactly what they are looking for.

How have things changed over the last 12 months, especially in regard to the Coronavirus outbreak?

I actually came back from maternity leave in February 2020. I was in the office for a month before Covid and lockdown hit. Everything was thrown up in the air just as I was getting back into the swing of things.

Initially, no one knew how long we were going to be in lockdown, or how long this was going to go on for. Many of us were nervous using video conferencing because we have never really had to do that before. A lot of our recruitment services are done face-to-face, usually with a coffee and some lunch! However, we were soon Zooming with clients and candidates, setting up remote interviews, remote testing, and coaching clients through the best way to get the most out of an online meeting with potential candidates.

Slowly, this way of working has become the ‘norm,’ it was just a case of managing everyone’s expectations and ensuring the tech worked!

What will the recruitment market look like in 2021?

When the furlough scheme came into place, recruitment got put on pause because everyone needed to evaluate their position and see what was going to happen next. Towards the summer of last year, we began to see the market pick back up and clients became more open to having conversations with good people in the industry again.

While things aren’t back to normal, and they won’t be for a while, people are hiring and that’s a good sign.

What is your top piece of advice for those now seeking employment and new opportunities?

There are opportunities out there and we are here to help. We made a lot of placements in the initial lockdowns and we’ve made a lot of placements since. We have good connections in the market, and we can act as your middleman, offering you reassurance, support, and encouragement. Use us as an agent, because we can help you navigate the market and find the right fit.

What makes Lawes Consulting Group stand out?

Insurance is what we do. We specialise in this industry and we have the market knowledge and experience to open doors for both clients and candidates.

Our trusted reputation within the industry has been built upon our ethos which is to provide a proficient, confidential service with loyalty and dedication to candidates and clients alike. We have partnerships with several small private brokers, major broking groups, international insurers, claims and adjusters, underwriting agencies, syndicates, MGAs, and many other companies operating within the Insurance, InsurTech, FinTech arena in London, the UK and Globally.

What is your biggest achievement to date?

I would say coming back to work after having my little boy, especially with the timing of everything. Covid-19 and its after-effects were a complete and utter curveball. It’s been a difficult situation for many of us, but I am extremely proud of myself to have carried on working, billing, and raising my son through such an uncertain and unprecedented time. That resilience is what I’m proud of.

What do you like to do outside of work?

I love cooking! That is one thing I am missing; I love going out for food and trying different places to eat.

In lockdown, I started a side-business doing catering. Home-cooked ready-meals that people can order and chuck in the freezer. A lot of my customers are return customers and are either living alone, shielding, or key workers.

It has been incredibly rewarding to have been able to do something for the community, and I’m grateful that I can continue providing those meals alongside working for Lawes.

Got a question about recruitment? Get in touch today!