Meet the Team: Pam Elliott, Insurance Manager

September 19, 2023

With over 19 years’ service, Pam Elliott shares the ins and outs of her role in Property Insurance and why she has remained working for Metrus throughout her career:

What makes Metrus a good employer and the reason why you’ve stayed for nearly 20 years?

The company has always had a family atmosphere where you are supported in your role but also in your personal life when needed. I have always been given reassurance where I have done a good job but also guided in the right direction and given opportunities for further career development.

How did you become interested in Property Insurance?

I joined Metrus initially as a general office administrator but worked closely with the person who dealt with the insurance side of the business. When she left the firm, I was offered the role and jumped at the chance.

Since taking over the position, our portfolio has expanded tremendously which has helped me increase my knowledge of property management and insurance. I also gained a qualification with the Chartered Insurance Institute to further expand my understanding, in order to better support the firm and our clients, as well as for personal development.

Tell us about your role and how you help clients with their insurance policies.

My role has two sides – insurance renewals and insurance claims.

With the renewals side, I work closely with the property managers and our clients to ensure that their properties are adequately insured, with the aim to obtain the most competitive premiums.

With the claims side, I again work closely with the property managers, but also with the occupiers to make the process as smooth as possible. I also work directly with the various insurance brokers and pride myself on having personable relationships in order to support our clients and the business.

What are the biggest challenges you face in your role and in your industry?

The main challenge, especially in the last couple of years, is the increase in insurance premiums. This is a direct result of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Ukraine war. All insurance companies have hardened up and rates are very high. This is particularly difficult for occupiers as they are generally paying the price. However, where we have properties insured on our block policy, our broker endeavours to be as competitive as possible, to give the best result for occupiers and our clients.

What other projects have you worked on?

Another role I have at Metrus is to oversee our ISO 14001 accreditation. This is where we map out a framework for our Environmental Management System. I am proud to say that we have held our certification since 2015. This is a huge benefit to our clients, and to Metrus, as it shows how we are committed to achieving a balance between environmental, social and economic objectives.

What do you think sets Metrus apart from the competitors in the industry?

Metrus are personable, proudly having long term existing clients, some in excess of 30 years. We offer single points of contact for our clients and have longevity & experience having been operating for more than 40 years.

How have you grown professionally since you started at Metrus?

When I first joined, not too long out of university, I only knew about property management from Philippa Land, who has been a director at Metrus for nearly 40 years. Since joining, I have learnt so much about the real estate world, as well as the insurance world. My colleague’s knowledge has been invaluable and I must cite Philippa Land and Adrian Sayer for their support and advice over the years. I have grown so much in the last 19 years, and I thank Metrus for that.

What interests and hobbies are you passionate about outside of work?

I love gardening and I love baking! It is now expected that every Monday morning I bring in a cake of some description to share with my colleagues.

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself.

I got into a final audition for The Great British Bake Off a few years ago. Unfortunately, didn’t make it past this to the actual tv show, but it was still a great experience.