Two young Bermudians have been given the unique experience of seeing first hand how the insurance industry works in Bermuda and London.

Robin Anderson and Sergio Lottimore, who are both Bermuda Foundation for Insurance Studies (BFIS) scholars, joined Amlin Bermuda when it set up in Bermuda almost two years ago to complement its parent company, London-based insurer Amlin, with Mr. Anderson going on secondment to work in the company's Lloyd's of London base.

Both were present at a $10,000 cheque donation presentation made this week by Amlin Bermuda to BFIS, which will be put towards future programmes and projects run by the insurance educator.

Mr. Anderson, 25 studied Maths at Guelph University in Ontario, Canada, where he graduated from in 2006, but a chance meeting with Amlin Bermuda's managing director, Stuart MacKellar, at a presentation led to a job offer and he has never looked back since.

"I guess, I was going into my fourth year at university and I had to decide what I wanted to do," he said.

"I was doing maths, which is quite close to what actuaries and accountants do, so I decided to apply for a scholarship with BFIS.

"I did an internship with Ace and Allied World Assurance Company, where I also got a scholarship, and also did an internship programme in Bermuda through BFIS.

"BFIS was doing a presentation at XL and Sergio (who I went to high school with) was there with Stuart, the MD of Amlin Bermuda, and Sergio said he knew me and I got a call from Stuart and he asked if I wanted to come in for an interview and I have been working here as an underwriting assistant ever since for almost two years."

During his short time with the company, Mr. Anderson has already flown over to London to meet up with his counterparts there, with plans to return in the not too distant future.

"It is certainly different. It is a lot more face-to-face interaction over there than over the phone and e-mail like we do here," he said. "It is a great experience."

Mr. Lottimore, 22, graduated from McGill University, also in Ontario, Canada last year, with a degree in International Business and Strategic & Financial Risk, but it was not until he posted his CV on the BFIS website that Amlin Bermuda came calling and he made his first step into the world of insurance.

"Probably one of the biggest reasons why I got into insurance was because I thought that was where the money is," he said.

"But, also, I did it because thought I could get promoted for my hard work and I thought it was a challenge."

"I came back home and the next day a head hunter from a recruitment agency called me and said this new company had just started up and they would like to offer me a job and could I start on Monday."

Mr. Lottimore started as a technical assistant and has worked his way around most of the various departments from claims to working with brokers on credit insurance at Amlin, but believes his real interest may lie in underwriting. Later this year, he plans to jet out to Amelia Island in Florida to meet up with representatives from international bank ABN Amro.

"I would say to any young Bermudians out there thinking about getting into insurance that they should not be nervous — I mean, there are lots of people in the industry who did not do insurance or a business-related subject at college or university," he said. "Employers want to see that you have organisational skills and basically get the job done and are a dependable person — it is a really rewarding industry to be in."

John Andrews, underwriting director at Amlin Bermuda, said: "It is great that Robin and another student Andrew Shaw get to spend time with the modelling teams and the brokers to see what life is like on the other side of the fence. We only get our business from London brokers, so that means that is beneficial for the younger underwriters in Bermuda to know and grow up with the younger brokers in London because it is important to keep the personal links in this business."

Mike Fisher, BFIS careers committee chairman, added: "We are very happy that these guys have had the opportunity and have found jobs through the help of BFIS and they are now moving to the next level.

"To be invited to spend time working in London in such a short period of time at the company is a unique opportunity and a tremendous one too."