Underwriting is at a pivotal moment. As technology transforms risk assessment, data analytics drives decision-making, and regulatory landscapes evolve, underwriters need a broader set of skills than ever before.
Success in 2025 and beyond relies on a combination of technical expertise, digital fluency, and strong interpersonal skills that enable confident, strategic decision-making.
At L&G (Legal & General), we are helping our underwriters build the capabilities to thrive in this fast-changing environment.
Our teams include:
- Life Underwriters – specialising in life insurance, income protection, and critical illness, across both individual applications and company schemes.
- Mortgage Underwriters – supporting our mortgage lending business, including later life mortgages.
From mastering core technical skills to developing leadership, communication, and adaptability, we ensure our teams are ready to meet today’s challenges and shape the future of underwriting.
Hard skills for underwriters
In today’s underwriting environment, technical expertise remains the foundation of success.
- Strong analytical and risk assessment capabilities are essential for evaluating complex data and making informed decisions that balance opportunity and risk.
- Deep knowledge of insurance products, policies, and regulatory requirements ensures accuracy and compliance in every assessment.
- Digital proficiency is increasingly critical. Familiarity with AI-driven tools, automation platforms, and predictive analytics enables underwriters to work more efficiently and make smarter, data-led decisions.
- It is important to note that alongside these skills, underwriters require a clear mandate or authority level to ensure decisions are made within appropriate governance frameworks. This expertise is applied directly to protection products such as life insurance, critical illness, and income protection, assessing both individual applications and group schemes for companies.
Soft skills for underwriters
While technical expertise forms the foundation, soft skills are what allow underwriters to excel in complex, fast-moving environments.
- Strong critical thinking and problem-solving enable professionals to navigate ambiguity, assess risk creatively, and make decisions with confidence.
- Effective communication and stakeholder management are equally important. Underwriters must clearly convey insights to brokers, clients, and internal teams, building trust and fostering collaboration across functions.
- Adaptability and resilience ensure underwriters can respond to changing market conditions and regulatory shifts while leading teams with clarity and purpose.
Most in-demand skills for underwriters in 2025
The underwriting landscape is evolving rapidly, and certain skills are becoming critical for staying ahead:
- Digital literacy: Ability to interpret advanced analytics, leverage AI tools, and integrate automation into workflows for faster, data-led decision-making.
- Strategic thinking and commercial awareness: Understanding market trends, regulatory developments, and customer needs to assess risk with a wider perspective.
- Adaptability: Embracing change and staying agile in response to new technologies, products, and regulatory requirements.
- Continuous learning: Proactively updating knowledge and refining approaches to remain a driver of performance and innovation.
Upskilling and continuous learning for underwriters at L&G
- Structured training programmes: Access to targeted courses covering technical expertise, digital tools, and regulatory knowledge.
- Mentoring and coaching: Guidance from experienced professionals to develop both hard and soft skills.
- Cross-functional opportunities: Exposure to different teams and projects to broaden knowledge and perspective.
- Digital upskilling: Hands-on experience with AI, automation, and analytics platforms to stay ahead of technological change.
- Culture of continuous growth: Encouragement to seek new learning opportunities and embrace lifelong development.
At L&G, we support underwriters in building these skills, ensuring they remain confident, capable, and ready for the challenges of 2025 and beyond.
This combination of upskilling and continuous learning allows for both technical knowledge and interpersonal expertise needed to drive impact.
We are committed to supporting underwriters at every stage of their career. For underwriters looking to grow, innovate, and make a real impact, explore our underwriting career opportunities today.
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