Choosing a Graduate Scheme isn’t just about where you’ll spend the next three years – it’s about what skills you’ll carry into the rest of your career. When you’re researching Graduate Scheme options, the question you should be asking yourself is: What skills will I learn?
At NFU Mutual, our Graduate Schemes are built to develop capabilities that matter long after the scheme ends. We caught up with some of the graduates who’ve just completed their first year with us to share how they’ve made the most of the key skills they can develop on our schemes, and why they make a difference.
1. Confidence in customer relationships
At NFU Mutual, customer relationships come first. That means our graduates don’t spend years hidden away or endlessly shadowing their colleagues. Instead, you’ll find yourself working with real customers – from farmers and families to commercial business owners – from very early on. Being able to build trust and communicate with clarity is a skill that carries across any profession.
“One of the biggest benefits of my scheme is that I get to work directly with our customers in the local community. This hands‑on experience gives me a valuable perspective.”
Amber‑Lily Winslow, Insurance Sales Graduate Scheme
2. Professional qualifications that count
Alongside on-the-job learning, NFU Mutual invests in your professional development. Graduates are supported through industry-recognised qualifications, such as the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA), Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), ISC2 Cyber Security and much more.
This isn’t just a box-ticking exercise. Qualifications give you credibility in the industry and demonstrate you’ve got both practical and technical expertise. Balancing study with work also teaches you how to manage time effectively – a skill every employer values.
“I have completed several professional development activities during my time on-scheme, including industry-recognised qualifications such as OSCP and CompTIA Security+, as well as various internal training courses and workshops. I am also undertaking a Master’s degree, which NFU Mutual are supporting me to achieve alongside my day-to-day role.”
Rhys Clements, IT Graduate Scheme
3. Taking opportunities that come your way
At NFU Mutual, you don’t have to wait long for growth and learning opportunities. Our Graduates are trusted with projects that make a difference, from shaping internal processes to supporting local initiatives, right from the start.
“My biggest achievement so far has been working on an expenses project set by the CEO, where I analysed financial data and presented my findings and recommendations alongside senior colleagues. This experience really highlighted how the graduate scheme enables us to work closely with senior leaders who value our input and support our development.”
Portia Wallis, Finance Graduate Scheme
4. Commercial awareness that transfers everywhere
Insurance may not have been on your radar as a student, but the NFU Mutual Graduate Scheme quickly shows how much commercial acumen the industry requires. You’ll learn how to assess risk, understand markets, and balance customer needs with business objectives.
This kind of commercial awareness is highly transferable. Whether you move into finance, consultancy, management, or even run your own business one day, the ability to understand the bigger picture – and make decisions that work for both people and profit – is invaluable.
“So far, I have worked in Motor Claims, Motor and Personal Underwriting and now Personal Lines Propositions. Each rotation can be tailored to your interests and growth, and you are encouraged to explore different business areas. This allows you to understand the bigger picture of the company and enables you to discover where your interests lie.”
Bethan Wheatley, Customer Services Graduate Scheme
5. Resilience and adaptability
Rotations across different departments, a mix of study and work, and the chance to work in customer-facing environments mean no two weeks are the same. That can be challenging, but it’s also what makes the NFU Mutual Graduate Scheme such a powerful learning experience.
Resilience isn’t just about bouncing back when things go wrong – it’s about being flexible, resourceful, and ready to take on new challenges. Those qualities are the backbone of any successful career.
“My biggest achievement so far has been owning a key process in my previous team. I was given full responsibility for managing all aspects of the processing, from start to finish. This included tracking performance, identifying inefficiencies, and regularly delivering back meaningful stats to stakeholders.”
Elise Ghent, IT Graduate Scheme
Why key skills matter
Many NFU Mutual graduates go on to varied and impactful roles – in underwriting, risk, agency leadership, compliance, and strategy, to name just a few. The five key skills listed above will help you thrive at NFU Mutual and prepare you for whichever direction your career takes you.
To find out more about our Graduate Scheme and all our career opportunities visit: careers.nfumutual.co.uk
