Why the BIBA 2024 Conference is extra special for me this year

Authored by Stacey Sheridan -  Network Relationship Manager, HSB

For all insurance professionals across the UK, The BIBA Conference continues to be the flagship event in their calendars. There’s a huge buzz around Manchester, both in the lead-up and during the week of the conference, which I absolutely love as a proud Mancunian who was born and bred in the city.

The BIBA Conference provides an unforgettable two days of insights, networking and collaboration. As you bump into familiar faces, former colleagues and acquaintances, you can feel a palpable sense of occasion as you’re walking around the exhibition floor.

Doing more together

There will always be a huge social element associated with attending The BIBA Conference, however over the years I’ve noticed a subtle shift in people coming to the event with a greater business focus. Whether it’s a desire to influence more meaningful conversations, become acquainted with new brokers or accelerate interesting opportunities, everyone you chat to has a clear purpose to maximise their time.

At HSB, planning for The BIBA Conference begins in earnest early into the new year and forms part of our long-term strategy to work closer and offer greater value to our broker partners. For me, listening to our partners to find out what’s really important to them, understanding their challenges and how we can help them is fundamental to my role as Network Relationship Manager.

Every successful business partnership should be built on the foundations of transparency, trust and helping both parties achieve their goals. I have an excellent working relationship with BIBA, which I credit to the hard work of Neil Jenkinson (Regional Manager) and Mike Hallam (Head of Technical Services), who supported the launch of HSB’s BIBA computer insurance scheme last year.

An extra special #BIBA2024

The BIBA Conference will be extra special for me this year following my recent inauguration as President of the Insurance Institute of Manchester (IIM). I’m extremely proud to have been awarded this accolade after undertaking various roles for the IIM over the last ten years, from dinner secretary to working on the events committee.

Juggling my new presidential responsibilities for the IIM alongside my existing role for HSB will be a challenge, but it’s one I’m relishing. I’m fortunate that HSB is so supportive as an employer and has encouraged me to make the most of this fantastic opportunity. It will ultimately bring me closer to passionate insurance professionals who want to make a genuine difference to our industry, their clients and their own careers, and I’m looking forward to meeting as many people as possible at The BIBA Conference.

The IIM and BIBA both share a common goal in supporting insurance professionals, whether it’s through career learning and development programmes to holding joint networking events, to drive innovation and make insurance more valuable for the customer. Relationships are so instrumental in our industry. I’ve always strived to attend as many events as I can, and network with the best technical minds, underwriters and claims professionals, as you never know where these conversations will ultimately lead.

By putting your best foot forward in an environment which brings the most influential figures in the insurance industry together, there is no better place than The BIBA Conference to make a difference to the people you work with, and to yourself.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

For more information on HSB’s presence at The BIBA Conference 2024, visit their website.