Insurance Claims Operations & Transformation Graduate Programme

Motor insurance policies aren’t taken out in the hope that a vehicle incident occurs and it’s rare for a customer to utilise their policy to make a claim. If that unfortunate time comes, our primary goal is ensuring that our customer receives a service that’s second to none, getting them back on the road quickly with the aim that they’ll want to renew their policy with us.

In striving to meet this goal, we’re passionate about:

Our ability to technically handle complex cases and achieving the right claims outcomes
Our constant desire to optimise our processes
Achieving the best commercial deals and relationship management
Fighting fraudulent claims
Data and analytics
Our digital offering
Managing our risks effectively

Our agile, fast paced and forward-thinking claims department offers a diverse and exciting career for the right people. You’ll receive exposure within a wide variety of disciplines and will develop technically, commercially, analytically and hone your leadership skills.

Where you’ll be based

The role will follow a hybrid working model, based in either our Bexhill or Leicester office. Our hybrid working approach offers flexibility. Usually, at the discretion of your manager, you'll only need to come into the office once a week and can work from home the rest of the time, but you're welcome to work from the office as much as you like. For training sessions, events, and other activities that needs you on-site, you’ll need to attend in person. Occasionally, you may need to travel to other locations, and the company will arrange and cover all travel.

Current opportunities

Starting your career with us

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We understand that your first graduate role should be more than just a job. Starting your career at Hastings Direct gives you the chance to make your mark in an ambitious, rapidly growing and digitally driven business. A company that genuinely cares about you as an individual, respects your opinions and listens to your ideas. One where you can make a positive difference, because you’re encouraged to look for growth opportunities and achieve your full potential.

We aim to give you the experience and technical knowledge to progress your career. We’ll provide you with a nurturing and challenging environment to help expand your horizons, develop new skills and make new connections.

Most of all, you’ll find all the support you need from people at every level, so you can fulfil your ambitions. From managers who are approachable and supportive, to colleagues who are always ready to help each other out. In short, you’ll have all you need to launch a successful career.

Your rotations

This two-year programme is built to enable you to become a future Hastings leader. You will have the opportunity to gain experience across the Claims and Counter Fraud organisation; working with our operational and commercial teams to understand and help transform us as a business and be a market leader in claims management.

Over the programme, you’ll have the opportunity to work in or with a number of different parts of the claims team:

Core placement: Customer Operations

There will be a mandatory rotation in Customer Operations, allowing you to gain valuable insight into how we support our customers when they need to claim against their policy. The experience you’ll gain is essential for understanding the challenges customers face and the ways we can make a real difference during distressing and difficult times for customers.
In Customer Operations, you’ll develop a strong foundation in empathy, problem-solving, and communication, which are vital skills for any future leader. This experience will provide you with a comprehensive perspective on the customer journey, ensuring you appreciate the impact of every decision on our customers from the very beginning of your career.
Optional placement: Commercial & Strategy

Our commercial teams are responsible for developing and implementing strategies that ensure we pay the right cost for a claim – no more, no less, and through partnership with other parts of the Hastings organisation, reach our goal of being the best in market for claims management.
Optional placement: Transformation

Our change teams coordinate a portfolio of activity from across the function; from system changes to prioritisation of broader change across our operational, commercial or supplier landscape.
Optional placement: Process Improvement and Governance

These teams ensure we have the right processes in place consistently across our department, as well as the appropriate governance framework and outcomes that are in place and are adhered to. You’ll gain a better understanding of risk assessment and management, including incident coverage.
Optional placement: Technical Audit and Coaching

You’ll spend time understanding Audit’s objective role within the department and their wider impact to the business. You’ll also learn how the coaching function works in an operational environment to drive the right performance outcomes.
Optional placement: Claims Analytics

One of the teams at the forefront of our data and analytics insights, they provide clarity on trends and performance for different areas, enabling teams across the departments to make robust and informed decisions.
Optional placement: Claims and Fraud Operations

Our operational teams own the claims journey and are the primary points of contact for customers, third parties and representatives; from the point we are notified of an incident right through to handling complex elements relating to injury or counter fraud.

Your professional development

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From the moment you join us, we’ll make sure you have access to a wide variety of opportunities for both personal and professional growth. You’ll be enrolled on our early careers development programme, providing you with a suite of bespoke sessions which develop the strengths we know graduates need to be successful at Hastings Direct. You’ll also have the opportunity to network and meet others in graduate programmes across the business.

To support you in your programme, we offer dedicated development and coaching to build your leadership skills, along with regular formal training to support wider awareness of company, industry and regulatory requirements.

And our inclusive, supportive culture means you’ll have a strong support network around you. From leaders to mentors, buddies to our Early Careers team, you’ll always have someone you can talk to about anything. From your future career at Hastings Direct, to where to get a coffee!

What we look for

We look for a combination of technical and personal skills, so you’ll need to have:

Qualification

A degree, achieved in the last three years

Skills

Strong ability to work collaboratively with others

Excellent communications skills, both written and verbal with exceptional organisational abilities

Behaviours

Demonstrated hunger for knowledge, curious and innovative

An ability to think independently and confidently challenge and influence the status quo in an constructive manner

Excellent communications skills, both written and verbal with exceptional organisational abilities

Behaviours

Competencies in considering the commercial impact of decisions and outcomes

Meet some of the team

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Dara Mudan, Insurance Claims Graduate (First Year)

I joined the graduate scheme in September and have done two months so far within the Bodily Injury team. I have had so many insightful commercial tasks to get involved with, such as taking ownership of the performance review of our Early Offers pilot strategy so far ahead of its full launch in 2026, or helping support on cases involving minors, reviewing reports and updating strategy lines to ensure these claims are tracked accurately and settlements are handled in a fair and supportive way. By taking on these tasks and being involved in daily calls with my knowledgeable and inclusive team, I feel I have learnt so much and developed so many valuable skills in a short time. I have also really enjoyed the company culture - I have had offsite days with my team which has helped bring us closer and the office is usually filled with other graduates, which brings a great social aspect and opportunities to connect personally and professionally.

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Niah Tank, Insurance Claims Graduate (Second Year)

I've been at Hastings just over a year now and it's been great! I am currently working within the Process Improvement team for Home but have also had time in the Commercial Motor and Commercial Fraud areas. Although each placement has been so different, they have all genuinely allowed me to obtain and develop a range of new skills as well as actively contributing to the business on projects that range from delivering commercial reports, to analysing fraud tools, or improving existing customer processes, that have left me with a real sense of accomplishment. It's been an incredibly rewarding scheme and beyond the work, the people at Hastings have been so welcoming, and with the many offsite and team day opportunities we get, it’s been a great chance to connect and form genuine friendships with my team and fellow grads.

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Amy Louise Hunter, Insurance Claims Graduate (First Year)

Joining Hastings in September from a non-insurance background was a bit daunting at first, but the supportive culture has made learning so much easier. My first rotation in the fast-growing Commercial Home Team has been genuinely exciting with lots of opportunities and plenty of friendly and knowledgeable people to learn from. In just a few months, I've explored different projects and attended a Business Transformation event that brought together teams like Bodily Injury and Fraud which was a nice way to meet new people. I've also recently started working on a weekly Home Commercial Insight pack where I get to help review performance. Being able to develop so many skills already is incredibly rewarding! Joining the program was definitely the right choice as the grad network provides even more opportunities to grow and build connections across the wider business.

Our recruitment process

After each stage, we’ll let you know if you’ve made it to the next one and what to expect. If you haven’t, we’ll be happy to give you feedback.

Apply

Select the appropriate programme on our careers site. Click apply, create an account, answer the required questions, and submit your CV.

Online Assessment

After completing your application, you’ll receive a link to our online assessment. The assessments vary by programme and will focus on your cognitive ability and role fit.

Application Review

We will review your application and assessment results to ensure you meet the criteria for moving to the next stage.

A magnifying glass with the words ‘Someone who’s accountable, thorough, and pays attention to detail’ below.

Role Suitability

The activity will depend on the programme. It aims to understand your practical knowledge and skills through an online video interview, technical assessment, or both.

Meet us

From producing case studies and giving presentations, to group and role-specific tasks, this is your chance to shine.

Welcome!

If you’re successful, we’ll offer you a place on one of our programmes and call you to talk through the details.

Frequently asked questions

Two female colleagues enjoying a cup of tea.

I already work at Hastings Direct – can I still apply?

Absolutely! If you meet our eligibility requirements, everyone is welcome. We suggest that you also speak with your Leader to help support with your application.
I don’t have a visa – can I still apply to Hastings Direct?

Unfortunately, we are currently unable to sponsor visas for our graduate programmes. You will be asked to provide evidence of your right to work in the UK during the selection process, and you must maintain and be able to demonstrate your right to work throughout the duration of your employment with the Company.
If you do have immigration permission (e.g. a graduate visa), this visa must cover you for the two or three-year programme and you’ll need to provide evidence of your course completion from your university before your starting date.
Can I apply to more than one programme?

Yes, however throughout the recruitment process we may give you the advice that you're better suited to another programme - we always have your best interests at heart.
My degree discipline is not listed on the candidate specification for the programme I am interested in, can I still apply?

Yes, if you can demonstrate your suitability for the role through relevant work experience, projects or modules throughout your degree or additional skills and interests.
I’m a mature student/graduate – can I still apply?

Yes – age is just a number although we do ask that applicants have graduated within the past two years or are due to graduate this academic year.
Can I apply if I’ve already graduated?

Yes, so long as you meet the minimum requirements for the programme you’d like to apply to, and we do ask that applicants have graduated within the past two years.
Do I need to relocate if I’m successful?

This will depend on the programme you are joining. We do typically ask that you are within commutable distance to one of our offices so you benefit from in-person support when you join, further information on which office can be found within the job advert.
I have a disability, long term health or neuro-diverse condition, are you able to provide support or adjustments through the recruitment process?

We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible. We can make adjustments and offer support throughout the recruitment process to ensure that you have the best chance of success. Furthermore, if you are made an offer, we can then discuss with you the adjustments you might need to get on with the job and develop your career.
Please refer to the recruitment process to find out more about the different stages during the recruitment process which will help you identify whether you will need any support or adjustments at any stage. Please contact us to discuss any support you may require at recruitmentteam@hastingsdirect.com.
What kind of adjustments can be made?

Adjustments vary depending on the specific needs or circumstances of the individual and the best way to identify the most suitable adjustments is for us to speak with you, which will allow us to determine what adjustments would be most appropriate.
Examples can include additional time, breaks, adjustable font sizes and subtitles on videos.
Please contact us to discuss any support you may require at recruitmentteam@hastingsdirect.com.
Is the assessment centre face to face or virtual and when will it take place?

We’ve moved back to face-to-face assessment centres. You’ll be asked to attend an in-person assessment centre, in one of our offices in either Bexhill (East Sussex) or Leicester.

We will advise you of the scheduled dates for your programme nearer the time so that you can keep the date free.
If I’m successful when is my starting date?

Our early careers programmes start in September each year.

If you have immigration permission that will allow you to complete your two or three year programme, you must provide evidence of your course completion from your university before your starting date.

Ready to apply?

Are you ready for a graduate programme with a fast growing, digitally-focused insurance company? A business with huge ambitions to be the UK’s best and biggest digital insurance provider?

An organisation that focuses on profitable growth that’s truly sustainable, by doing the right thing for colleagues, customers, the community and the company – our 4Cs? Somewhere that celebrates openness and diversity by encouraging you to be yourself? And was named the UK’s #1 Best Big Company to Work for 2025 for the second year running?

Are you ready for a future with Hastings Direct?

Applications for our 2026 schemes are closed. Recruitment for the 2027 schemes will start Dec 2026/Jan 2027.

A colleague working on their laptop in a work booth, Bexhill.

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