The science behind our solutions

I studied Maths, Biology and Psychology at A Level with high hopes of becoming a clinical psychologist. I then went on to the University of Glasgow, where I studied Statistics alongside a joint honours degree in Maths and Psychology. All my work experience, research and extra reading was aimed at becoming a psychologist, while Maths was more of a fun side quest. Then the pandemic hit, and somewhere in those two years of online learning, masks and isolation, I realised psychology wasn’t for me. After graduating in 2022, I took a gap year to reflect on what I wanted from a career and ended up applying for the Actuarial Graduate Scheme at Aviva.

As an Actuarial Graduate Trainee, I try to predict the number and cost of future claims to ensure we have enough money to pay for them. More broadly, we try to predict the future, working out whether we have enough money to meet costs even in the worst-case scenarios. We work with teams across the business to support decisions around pricing, investments, company growth and disaster planning, using models, expert judgement and real-world insights.

Whilst the work can be intense at times, the environment is constantly one of support, development and encouragement. There is a large learning curve when you start, but the company is filled with experts and mentors who are always willing to help and offer advice. One of the best things for me has been the Actuarial study policy, which provides the resources and support needed to make progress with the IFOA exams. Everyone I’ve met has been cheering me on through successes and supporting me through setbacks.

I still have at least another 18 months on the Actuarial Graduate Scheme before I qualify as an actuary. I’m hoping to achieve that with Aviva’s support before exploring opportunities for progression and discovering more parts of the business in the future.