Pros
- Good training & steep initial learning-curve. A good place to gain a high-level understanding of UK intermediaries. - Reasonable remuneration for operations role although they'll take their pound of flesh & competition pay more. - Great office in prime location. - Strong industry reputation which looks good on CV. - Good systems.
Cons
- Highly stressed, negative and frankly unwell workforce. Two of my immediate colleagues were signed off for long-term stress during my time in the business. Management will happily pressure staff into this situation and then unapologetically manage them out once they reach it. I resigned long before this happened to me. - Learning fully curve plateaus after 1 year. - Middle management are patronising, anti-intellectual, box-thinkers who have been in the business for decades without changing their approach. - Hierarchical structure provides no access to senior management. - Minimal progression - supervisor role yields a meagre pay rise to become a formalised dogsbody. - High turnover - staff typically stay 2-3 years before moving on to businesses which cater for their ambition. - Average benefits package (don't expect to retire on the staff pension). - Immediate competitors pay more.
