In a digital working world, it can sometimes feel like industry conferences are outdated. Plus, with hard selling, badge‑scanning and post‑event lead assessments dominating the agenda for some, it’s easy to overlook the wider value these gatherings create. But that’s often a mistake.

Insurance has always been a relationship‑driven market, and there’s a level of understanding that only comes from being in the room with people, the kind of insight that never makes it into a report, a presentation or a carefully worded press release.

Face‑to‑face conversations reveal the nuance behind the headlines: how brokers are really feeling about service levels, what capacity providers are quietly worried about, where appetite is shifting, and which parts of the market are under strain. You can hear the tone and the emphasis behind their comments, all the signals that help an MGA read the market more accurately.

Events also remind the industry about the value of relationships and building knowledge for the benefit of the sector as a whole through access to some of its leading voices, and for developing younger talent.

Understand why you’re there

Taking time out of the business needs to have a clear purpose, so it’s important to understand why you’re attending an event or sending your team. Conferences can easily become box‑ticking exercises unless you’re clear about what you want to achieve. 

For some, the priority might be winning new business; for others, it’s about being visible and playing an active role in the ecosystem. Whatever the goal, being clear upfront ensures the time spent away from the desk offers something useful.

Events are far more than just commercial opportunity after all. They’re a chance to reconnect with contacts, understand what’s happening across the market, and hear unfiltered views that rarely surface in formal reports. They also provide space to take part in discussions on key topics and position yourselves as engaged and informed.

Different benefits across your team

The value of getting out into the industry is often unique for everyone, depending on where they are on their career journey and what experience they have. There’s almost always something that can be gained from experiencing the industry in person though, so we asked some of our team what matters to them.

Melissa Gray – Underwriter

“I’ve been in the company for 2 years now, so networking is a great opportunity for me to learn. Face-to-face events have been so useful for helping me understand the roles of different companies in the sector, as well as how they work together.

They’ve also given me the chance to hear about the industry and some of the key new developments and challenges being faced. Hearing talks from expert panels has been really influential on my own development and in my own work.

The events have also helped me build confidence in introducing myself and what I do at the company to new people. They’ve been a great part of my learning so far.”

Dan Matthews – Development Underwriter

“I’ve worked in insurance for a few years now and am always looking to find out new things. For me, being at face-to-face events is key to building my connections across the industry, both for creating new relationships for the future and also just to hear new ideas and views.

It’s all part of trying to play a more active role in the industry, building my understanding of different companies, and enhancing my presentation skills during workshops, meetings and when we’re exhibiting ourselves.

I love the buzz of the events when everyone comes together. There’s always real value in hearing how others are approaching shared challenges in the sector, and those conversations often spark ideas that we can bring to the business.”

Louis Gibson – Development Underwriter

“I’ve been through the stages that the team are at now, using events as a fantastic way to meet new people and learn new things. Now, I see them as a really important tool for bringing the industry together.

“Although there’s competition day to day between companies, there are times when the industry benefits from being in the same room, exchanging views and discussing how we can improve outcomes for brokers, clients and the sector as a whole.

I also love the opportunity to introduce my team to interesting new connections and helping them join in the debate. I find it really helps encourage more confidence and ideas back in the office too.”

Face‑to‑face events aren’t simply a nod to the old days for doing deals, they should be part of a wider strategy. For an industry built on trust, expertise and relationships, being in the room still matters.