PB Week: Our most important asset?

It's at this time of year that the invitations arrive asking me, as a representative of the Chartered Insurance Institute, to be a speaker at trade conferences and exhibitions.

When I attend these events the main focus is invariably on trading, driving income and commission rates and what can be done to increase business value writes Alasdair Stewart, head of corporate development, general insurance, at the CII. What always interests me is how little emphasis is placed on the importance of attracting, and retaining the right talent as a value driver.

Evidence shows that where investment is made in staff personal development there are clear positive results with staff