Among all the insurers, banks and other financial services firms, a recruitment company from Bermuda was making its debut at the Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) 2008 conference in San Diego this week.

Expertise, based in Burnaby Street, Hamilton, specialises in human resources, outsourcing, payroll and employment law, as well as representing Bermuda Jobs and Talentbank, which supplies companies with underwriters, actuaries and accountants.

The company was at RIMS for the first time ever, in the form of its business development manager Chris Bailey meeting up with existing clients and getting business from new ones.

The recruitment firm, which has the likes of Ace, XL, AIG, Arch and Chubb on its books, decided it made sense to attend this year's conference with many of their clients making the trip to the event, according to Mr. Bailey.

"We decided that this time last year it was quiet for us because a lot of our clients were away at RIMS," he said.

"We have clients here and companies looking at relocating to Bermuda, so it is good to meet with them and tell them about the services we offer and we have had a very positive response.

"To have come on our own and been invited and to be gratefully received at RIMS has been a great honour for us."

Among the main points of interest have been questions about the immigration process in Bermuda, how easy it is to run a company on the Island and the human resources procedures, as well as how employment laws work in Bermuda, said Mr. Bailey.

"I think the biggest concern to a lot of people is potentially setting up in Bermuda and how immigration applies to that," he said.

"We are here to reassure people that the immigration process in Bermuda is constantly improving and becoming better and more efficient for international business.

"There were also a lot of people asking about the captive set-up in Bermuda and what the benefits of Bermuda are over the Cayman Islands - that is probably the biggest question that has been asked."