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Hi Guys,

Welcome to my placement website. I am currently studying Business Computing Systems and as we all know, going on a placement is essential for this course.

My placement started at Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance on the 31st of July 2006. I started applying early, say since November 2005 but did not get my placement till April. So this leads me to my first advice. Always apply early. The earlier you start applying, the sooner you get your placement.

My second advice is for you to apply to as many companies as possible. The more applications you send, the better your chances of getting a placement. Also, the more you apply, the more interviews you go to and the more confident you become.

Finally, do not give up. Keep applying and you will get your chance.


Seun Fayoyin

Placement Responsibilities

My main responsibilities at Mitsui included providing general first and second line support to users. Some of these tasks included;

User Accounts:
Creating new accounts for users, liaising with managers on the access levels of each new user, desk location and providing mobile phones and PDA’s.
Unlocking user accounts, resetting, enabling and disabling user accounts as needed.

Helpdesk:
Monitoring the inflow of calls and emails sent to the help desk, answering user questions on various topics and helping to solve user problems that have been allocated to me.

Training:
Giving inductions to new users, providing basic training on how to use computer applications and equipments.

Disaster Recovery:
Ensuring that all jobs are backed up accordingly on a daily basis.
Providing Citrix access to all users to ensure that they can log on to the system from any location in case of a disaster or on holiday.

Networking:
Carrying out network audits, ensuring that all computers, printers and phones are correctly patched in the comms room.

Ghosting:
This involves loading a copy of our Operating System, which we have loaded on one of our servers, on to all new computers that are going to be used by employees. I log on to the server which has the ghost image, get it ready to accept clients, then I go to the computer and set it up from the BIOs to request the ghost image. As soon as the server realises that a ghost image has been requested, it deploys the image and I go about installing the latest microsoft patches, adding the computer to our domain and installing our Anti virus system.

Software Installation
I ensure that all software is installed on users computers as requested by the users or their managers. When new software arrive, I load a copy of the software and license key on our server for futer use. I also install upgrades when necessary.

Hardware Maintenance
I look after most of the computer hardware used by the company. I order replacements when needed and liaise with lanware to repair whichever ones that can e repaired.

Blackberry / PDA / mobile phone support
One of my main responsibilities in the last six months of my placement involved providing all levels of support for all company PDA's and mobile phones. I was the first line of contact whenever users had problems with their PDA's or mobiles both in the country and abroad.

Organisational Structure

*Mitsui Sumitomo has various departments in the company including Property, IT, Construction, Casualty, Marine, Motor (Fleet), Professional Indemnity, Financial Solutions, Risk Engineering and Claims Management.

Property
Mitsui Sumitomo has a highly experienced Property team which has built a reputation for innovation, accessibility and professionalism since 2001, with client retention rates currently standing at 90% since then. Our differentiation in the market comes from an imaginative strategy which places emphasis on reducing risk and minimising losses through a proposition that integrates underwriting, risk engineering and Claims management.

IT
Mitsui has a very experience IT depatment which plays a very important part in the company because they provide main support for all the company’s systems and ensure the smooth operation of things.

The IT department is has contracted LANWare (Our inhouse technical support team which help to deliver all manner of support to the company's systems. They also work with various underwriting companies and software companies to ensure the smooth operation of things.

Construction
Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance's Construction Team brings together expertise in contract works and liability to offer the construction industry a more efficient, flexible insurance solution with sharper focus on reducing risks through innovative underwriting, claims handling and risk management.

We specialise in underwriting UK/European-parented companies, who take a pro-active approach to loss control in this sector. We look to work in close partnership with brokers and their clients, who demonstrate a clear commitment to effective risk management and are willing to consider a programme of self-retention

Casualty
Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance (MSI) focus is on working with clients who take a proactive approach to risk management and workplace health and safety. We underwrite most sectors of the UK casualty market with particular emphasis on the retail sector.
We have established ourselves as one of the most practical, pro-active and above all, progressive liability insurers in the UK. It's a reputation based on our commitment to listening and understanding the intricacies of an insured's businesses.

Marine
The MSI Marine Insurance Team was set up in 2002 to build a portfolio of Marine business to complement the overall syndicate philosophy and strengthens the range of services offered. Our team is comprised of experienced Marine specialists and our accessible style and innovative approach have quickly established Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance as a key player in the Cargo, Specie and Hull classes.

With our in-depth industry knowledge supported by the resources of Lloyd's agents around the world and complemented by a network of independent consultants providing specialist support including loss control, risk management and claims management facilities, our understanding of the sector is unparalleled. By understanding the needs of our clients, in partnership with brokers, we can deliver bespoke Marine Insurance solutions characterised by exceptional levels of specialist knowledge and customer service.

Motor(Fleet)
MSI's approach to motor (fleet) insurance is centred around a service led, risk managed approach in conjunction with our broker partners and their clients.
Since our inception in 2001, we have grown our motor business to become a major insurer of blue chip customers in industry sectors such as retail, logistics, transport, construction, banking and food. 2006 saw further expansion of our motor offering into the UK mid-market.
Our proposition is centred on delivering a highly responsive, personal and flexible service through our ever growing in-house account team complemented with the expertise of broker partners and independent motor industry specialists to develop a clear picture of the real risks the insured faces

Professional Indemnity
At Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance, we champion good management, focus on client relationships and create innovative underwriting solutions for Professional Indemnity Insurance.
The depth of knowledge and experience within the team enables us to write business in an increasingly volatile and complex market. We look to work with clients with a proven track record and who support sound risk management practices.
When writing Professional Indemnity and Directors' and Officers' covers, we aim to lead the primary or excess layer, dependant on the exposure of the risk or trade. We are one of a very few Professional Indemnity specialists to focus on Risk Management. We believe standard forms and routine formulae restrict innovation.
Which is why we're committed to working in partnership with brokers and their clients to deliver best practice. Professional Indemnity can be a major budget issue for companies, so we're keen to understand what they're doing to manage risk and how we can help them still further. So rather than pigeon-hole companies by their sector, we'll take an objective look at their quality procedures, systems, processes, training, file management before making an underwriting and premium decision.
The highly experienced underwriters in our Lloyd's-based team focus on professional firms and professional services companies in the UK and EU with premiums of over £10K

Financial Solutions
Utilising technical underwriting expertise and financial skills in an innovative and client-focused manner, our solutions are tailored to each client's need. Clients gain considerable added value from such transactions both in structuring the financial proposition and in the element of risk transfer that takes place.
With a dedicated and diverse team of experienced underwriters, we draw on a variety of disciplines such as corporate finance, insurance underwriting, investment banking, risk management and statistical modeling.

Risk Engineering
Risk Engineering is one of the fundamental strengths of Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance (MSI). Our risk management approach, which is core to our underwriting process, is successful in reducing losses and costs across large blue-chip companies and mid-market sectors. Working closely with our Claims Management team, our Risk Engineers build up a clear picture of the most common causes of loss in specific industries. This knowledge is invaluable in quickly identifying and concentrating on the key hazards and areas of risk in an insured’s business and evaluating current risk management procedures. We work closely with experienced consultants, in every case selected for their in-depth, specialist knowledge of the specific industry.

Claims Management
A high quality, speedy decision-making process that get claims settled without unnecessary legal intervention wherever possible.
Excellent communication throughout, with high levels of management information available for broker partners and their clients.
High accessibility to our claims technicians meaning the insured always knows exactly at what stage their claim is at.
A proactive approach to claims management centred on business continuity for the insured.
Our claims team focuses on decision-making and claims management with claims adjusting, administration and file handling functions provided by carefully selected specialist partners (TPAs).

* Source: Information on the company was obtained from the company handbook and website

Company Background


*The names of Mitsui and Sumitomo have been a part of the UK Insurance market for over one hundred years.
Through organic growth, acquisition and mergers, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company Ltd. (MSI) of Japan is now one of the world’s largest general insurers with over £6.4 billion NWP and assets of more than £41.4 billion**.
Established in the UK in April 2000, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance (London Management) Ltd (MSILM) is the holding company for two London market underwriting businesses, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Underwriting at Lloyd’s Ltd and Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance (London) Ltd
The businesses have built an annual turnover in excess of £310m and, more importantly, an outstanding reputation for a uniquely innovative approach to underwriting, risk engineering and claims management.
Keen to extend beyond the traditional areas of insurance into the dynamic and fast growing areas of risk consulting and financial insurance, MSI has invested in the specialist skills, expertise and potential of MSILM, providing full financial backing, whilst entrusting full underwriting authority to the London teams.
Our approach offers a proposition that is highly competitive and efficient, delivering high levels of customer service and prompt claims handling. It’s a flexible, innovative approach based on greater insight and deeper understanding of our brokers and their clients.
Underwriting is supported by the financial security that comes from the backing of our parent company in Japan, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co. Ltd (which holds Standard & Poor’s coveted AA security rating.) and provides full financial backing through the provision of a Credit Support Agreement.
* Source : Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company Website
** Source : Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Compant Limited Anual Report 2006

Placement Experience

Reflection:

After spending one year at Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance, I have learned quiet a few things. My experience has not been limited to only academics, but also personally, socially, culturally and lots more. I have been able to learn more about myself, applying myself into various situations, showing and taking initiative, and also the importance of independence. As a person, I have learnt more about my strengths and weaknesses and it has brought me closer in deciding what I want to spend my time doing after University.

Working in a world renowned insurance company has thought me a lot about the corporate world. I have learnt how to conduct myself in front of clients, chair meetings, and negotiate contracts with various clients. My confidence has been boosted in preparation of my time after University. I have been able to learn what employers want when they interview candidates for different positions and how to be successful in whatever position one might find themselves in.

My experience acquisition has been further improved during my placement year. I have learnt a lot outside of University and also been able to apply all the knowledge that I have gained from University into my placement year.

Working closely with LANWARE has helped me improve my technical abilities as a computing student and working in an Insurance company has helped me with my business side and further extended my interests in the financial services industry. My colleagues have been very supportive and they helped me settle with little problems. They were also on hand to help with complex situations that I might have found myself in.

In summary, I enjoyed my placement year and my workplace and I am very happy that I made the decision to go on placement. I think everyone should consider this as it opens doors and gives the student a peek at what to expect after they finish University.