A group of 16 Bermudian insurance executives spent last week visiting and learning about the London insurance market. They travelled to London under the auspices of the "Under 40s", an informal association of younger members of the Bermuda market. Of the 16, just one man attended all the meetings.

The trip was organised by Julia Mather, director of Miller Bermuda Limited, a broker. Among the group were representatives of the insurance and reinsurance sectors, a law firm and the Bermuda Monetary Authority.

"The purpose of the trip is to give young people who have grown up, on the whole, in the Bermuda re/insurance market the opportunity to compare and contrast that market with another, in this case London," said Mrs. Mather. "It gives them a greater understanding of how things are done elsewhere, to see what they are up against or to have a better idea in some instances of how their clients or newly acquired syndicates function.

"Obviously the London market has many elements that are unique and without seeing, for example, a Lloyd's box for yourself, you don't really get a sense for what one is."

A Lloyd's box is the name given to a syndicate's underwriting area, to which submissions are brought for consideration. Underwriters sit at square tables, where they discuss and decide on submissions.

A non-profit group, The Bermuda Under 40s Re/Insurance Group has several hundred registered members in the insurance and reinsurance sectors and related industries. Only the committee and voting members need to be under 40 years old. The group's aim is to promote and foster interest and knowledge in all areas of insurance and reinsurance by providing a forum for members for topical comment, educational and networking opportunities.

The London visit ticked all those boxes. The Bermuda "tourists" had a busy week. Monday, October 13, began with a presentation at Lloyd's, followed by a lunch and presentation at Miller's London headquarters. A tour of the Lloyd's building at One Lime Street followed, including a visit to the Adam Room, where Lloyd's Council meets. The ornate room is named for Scottish architect Robert Adam, who in 1772 was commissioned to produce a design for the 'New Lloyd's Coffee House'. That evening, Willis hosted the group to a reception and a tour of its new London building.

On Tuesday morning, the Lloyd's Under 30s individually hosted a shadowing around the Lloyd's market itself. "I think that most people thought sitting at a box would probably be the highlight of the week," Mrs. Mather said, "and it certainly was a memorable experience."

From there, the group went to Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge, a law firm and a previous employer of Under 40s' education officer, Katie Tornari, where such matters as contract certainty, the subscription market and arbitration were discussed.

That evening, the group went to the O2, the former London Millennium Dome, for a concert by English singer-songwriter James Blunt, courtesy of XL Capital.

On Wednesday, the Financial Services Authority hosted a morning of presentations at their Canary Wharf headquarters. In the afternoon the group visited Catlin's offices and met David Ibeson, Nick Sinfield and Jon Gale, who used to be based in Bermuda. That evening, the group of Bermuda executives went on the London Eye, the world's tallest cantilevered observation wheel, an iconic 21st century landmark that reaches a height of 370 feet above the city.

Thursday began at Exclusive Analysis, a company that provides analysis of political risk and terrorism risk, "and this was in fact the highlight of the week for many," Mrs. Mather said. "People found it fascinating and asked lots of questions."

Edwards Angell had arranged for some of the group to see High Court proceedings in the Buncefield trial, relating to an enormous fire that burned through an oil storage depot near London in 2005. "Some of our group work for companies that faced claims from that fire, which made it very interesting for them," Mrs. Mather explained.

The day was rounded out with visits to rating agency Standard & Poor's and law firm Clifford Chance, for a presentation on the sub-prime crisis, part of which was provided by Susie Wakefield of local law firm Attride-Stirling & Woloniecki. A reception followed.

In the final stretch of a marathon week, the group was assembled bright and early on the Friday morning. "Everyone was there in reception at 7.20 a.m.," Mrs. Mather said, "as you would expect." The group took a bus to Kent to visit XChanging , the fast-growing international business processing company, which has a strong Bermuda connection.

Then back to London and on to the 800-year-old Guildhall, which is still home to the City of London Corporation. "We met with Jeremy Fern of their economic development team," Mrs. Mather said. "He explained how London came to be the financial centre it is and will remain."

The genesis of the trip took place a couple of years ago, when Mrs. Mather travelled with the Bermuda Under 35s on a week-long tour of the US. "I had more 'lightbulb' moments that week than I've had in the rest of my working life," Mrs. Mather said, recalling a trip that took in Chicago, Boston and New York. "We thought: next time, UK." The Bermuda Under 40s started as the Under 35s but was renamed earlier this year to be in line with similar organisations in the US.

The travellers flew back to Bermuda on the weekend to return to work this week, invigorated by the experience and refreshed by the intensity of a hard-working week.

"All in all," Mrs. Mather said, "it was a very successful trip and I would like to thank all those who took part, both by attending and hosting, for making it such a positive experience."

Travelling to London with Mrs. Mather were Gordon Cooper, underwriting assistant, Aspen Re; Raymanda Davis, insurance analyst, Oil Casualty Insurance Limited; Melissa Flood, assistant vice president (risk analyst), Argo Re; Chen Foley, associate, Sedgwick, Detert, Moran & Arnold; Nikara Fraser, assistant underwriter, Endurance Specialty Insurance Limited; Jasmine Furbert, assistant underwriter, Endurance Specialty Insurance Limited; Carmen Gracey, assistant vice president (underwriting), Platinum Underwriters Bermuda Limited; Lisa Horton, underwriting assistant, Axis Specialty Ltd.; Megan Kempe, head of catastrophe modelling, D.E. Shaw & Co (Bermuda) Ltd.; Sarah Lindo, assistant vice president, ACE Bermuda Ltd.; Jamie Pedro, assistant underwriter, Tokio Millennium Re Ltd.; Candace Roach, senior compliance officer, Bermuda Monetary Authority; Robyn Simmons, risk analyst, Oil Insurance Limited; Sheena Thomas, assistant underwriter, Endurance Specialty Insurance Limited; and Katie Tornari, senior associate, Marshall Diel & Myers.