Building Success and Innovation: Laura Lapsley - Senior Underwriter
Image: Laura Lapsley, Senior Underwriter
Laura Lapsley, a Senior Underwriter at Westcor in Scotland, brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to her role. Having embarked on her journey with the company in January 2022, she’s approaching the two-year mark and reflecting on the transformative nature of her position.
Diverse day-to-day
“I started at Westcor as a Commercial Underwriter and moved up to the role of Senior Underwriter in April,” Laura reflects, charting her progression. “My day-to-day primarily revolves around underwriting, although with the recent promotion, there’s a heightened focus on business development and supporting Kirsty with marketing initiatives.”
Transitioning from her previous role at First Title, Laura emphasises the dynamic nature of her work at Westcor. “Initially specialising in Scotland and Northern Ireland underwriting, I expanded to cover English and Welsh underwriting as well. It’s been a learning curve, encountering new risks daily, which keeps things intriguing.”
Why Westcor?
The appeal of Westcor lay in its fresh approach and the promise of contributing to something new. “Joining Westcor felt like building something from scratch,” she explains. “Having a voice in shaping the company’s direction stood out. It’s refreshing compared to established firms where change takes years to materialise.”
Describing Westcor’s culture as a blend of startup dynamism and a supportive team, Laura acknowledges the company’s evolution since her arrival. “We’ve seen significant growth with new team members and a flexible approach to roles. Josh is a great example of this, whilst he joined as an underwriter, he carved out his own role as Head of Schemes. The company offers real diversification in the job, you never know what you’ll walk into, but that keeps it interesting. Being a part of building something is incredibly rewarding and it’s motivating to witness the company’s progress, especially in terms of financial stability.”
Overcoming challenges
In a growing company, challenges will always be part of the journey, and for Laura it was notably the constraints imposed at the outset. “The initial phase, restricted by covenants, posed hurdles in re-establishing client relationships. Building Westcor’s brand recognition in Scotland has been an ongoing effort, but it’s rewarding to witness the positive impact of our efforts in client satisfaction and retention.”
What sets Westcor apart, according to Laura, is the approachability and collaborative spirit within the team. “The accessibility and willingness of everyone to assist makes it a great environment for personal development and delivering excellent service to clients across all jurisdictions. Learning from colleagues like Ben has been invaluable, everyone approaches challenges differently, and by bouncing ideas off one another, you can often find a resolution for a case that you wouldn’t have necessarily come up with on your own.”
Future growth and opportunity
Looking ahead, Laura anticipates Westcor consolidating its presence in Scotland and Northern Ireland. “We’re laying a strong foundation and aiming to elevate our market share, attracting high-value projects and further establishing ourselves as key players in the region.”
For budding underwriters, Laura advocates continuous learning and adaptability. “Be open to new experiences, collaborate with your team, and don’t shy away from seeking advice. Underwriting demands flexibility and leveraging collective expertise.”
Outside work, Laura cherishes time spent with her husband and their “menace to society” Maltese, Buddy. “I’m probably boring,” she jokes, “but hanging out with my family is the best way to spend time.”
Laura Lapsley’s journey at Westcor demonstrates the core culture of Westcor; delivery, adaptability, and a passion for innovation. Her story reflects not just personal growth but also Westcor’s dynamic, collaborative, and forward-thinking team.
