I knew university wasn’t for me but wanted to keep on learning

Meet Tom Murray

I left sixth form in 2011 and whilst I wanted to keep on learning, I knew university wasn’t for me. Although I wasn’t sure which career path to follow, I knew I wanted real-life experience, good training, and an attractive wage, so the NFU Mutual Trainee Agent Scheme really appealed to me.

I joined NFU Mutual’s first Trainee Agent Scheme and haven’t looked back. Throughout the scheme, I had placements in different agencies, which gave me a taste of what being an Agent would be. When I completed the scheme, I became an Agent in Skipton and spent five years there running my own business in partnership, before joining the Selby agency as a Senior Agent.

Introducing my agency - Yorkshire Central

I work with two Partner Agents and 15 staff in Selby, covering an area from Doncaster in the south to Tadcaster in the north. We look after around 3,500 customers, with £7.25million Gross Net Written Premiums.

It’s quite a traditional farming-based business with a lot of renewals. Right now, I’m developing our growth strategy to attract more new business. It’s a big piece of work, but I enjoy the challenge of driving change for the better.

My career life story

I’ve worked with NFU Mutual since I left sixth form, first as an employee and then as a self-employed Agent. They’ve always given me opportunities to develop my skills, from the Trainee Agent Scheme to facilitating access to business consultancy and development resources.

2019 - Senior Partner Agent of NFU Mutual, Selby
Transforming the business, working with two other Partners, and leading a busy team in Yorkshire.

2017 - Partner Agent of NFU Mutual, Skipton
Driving business growth, developing customer relationships, and ensuring we deliver great service.

2012 - Trainee Agent NFU Mutual, multiple agencies
On the Trainee Agent Scheme, I was employed by NFU Mutual, and worked at different agencies to develop my skills and experience as part of the programme.

2011 Sales Executive NFU Mutual, Hexham
Working with the Agents to service clients and sell policies.

A little Q&A

Being an Agent of NFU Mutual can be challenging and varied, but ultimately, it’s extremely rewarding. As a self-employed Agent, I’m responsible for leading, developing and growing my business. Below, I’ve answered some of the questions you might have if you’re thinking of becoming an Agent with NFU Mutual.

What skills or behaviours do you think make a good Agent?
Being self-employed is a great opportunity with a unique set of challenges. The drive and enthusiasm to push your business forward is key – even in difficult times. On top of that energy, you also need a large amount of resilience and drive to get you through the harder days.

What is it about running your agency that you enjoy?
There’s nothing like the autonomy of being self-employed, with the freedom to run your own business. But I also have lots of support from NFU Mutual. For example, we work together on initiatives to help grow and develop my agency business. As my main customer focus is on larger commercial clients, I enjoy the opportunity of privileged access into people’s businesses, understanding what makes them tick and how they grow.

How does it differ to being employed?
Being self-employed enables you to address problems, come up with solutions and make changes quickly. Being an Agent is a great blend of running and controlling your own business, while also having the support and backing of NFU Mutual.

What does success as an Agent mean to you?
I get a lot of satisfaction from steering my business in the direction I choose. My income and life balance are all down to what I put in. The environment created in the network is a true meritocracy and the potential is huge, so if you work hard, you’ll soon see the results of your efforts and enjoy the rewards.

Describe being an Agent in three words.
Exciting. Rewarding. Engaging.