The_Accessor_Autumn 2025 web - Flipbook - Page 19
JOURNAL
OPINION
A PERSONAL PATH
TO MOTOR ENGINEERING
The IAEA is pleased to take part in a special feature from Modern Insurance Magazine
called “Associations Assemble”. Joining leaders from The Credit Hire Association (CHO),
the Motor Accident Solicitors Society (MASS), Managing General Agents’ Association
(MGAA), the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) and the Forum of Insurance
Lawyers (FOIL), Victoria Whittle, IAEA Council Member and Engineer Team Leader at
sopp+sopp, shared her views on what inspired her to pursue a career in insurance and
how her journey has evolved over time.
ictoria writes:
Inspiration came
when my employment
changed from a book
maker manageress to a
motor claims handler back in 1997. The
leap came as the work life balance was
non-existent.
V
I was fortunate to secure a claims
handler role and promptly studied
and absorbed as much information
as I possibly could, not only from a
company stance but also on a personal
level, I wanted to know all I could, my
desire, need, passion to do so was the
driving force. I had to be excellent.
During the initial years in the Insurance
sector – I changed departments, not
only for experience and exposure but
obviously for the 昀椀nancial bene昀椀t that
accompanied the progression. My 昀椀eld
is the Motor Insurance sector.
My move into the Motor Engineers
department as an engineer’s liaison
(booking physical inspections) gave
me the “in” I needed/wanted. This
was when estimates were faxed to the
engineer for the following days work. I
was able to review them – understand
them and dissect them – not in a
formal capacity as this wasn’t my role.
I also had no quali昀椀cations and
therefore no authority.
This was now my challenge – I wanted
to be an Insurance Engineer. So, that is
what I did.
I enrolled in evening classes – NVQ
Levels 1,2,3 – in Vehicle Paint and
Body re昀椀nishing; a two-year,
one-evening-a-week course. On top
of this I asked a local repairer if I
could spend time at their bodyshop
to actually inspect damaged vehicles
and input the estimate I had compiled
into their estimating system, to gain
experience and have the opportunity
to learn. In return, I would help them
with insurance queries, thus no monies
were required or offered. With this
knowledge and now quali昀椀cation I was
able to use this in my place of work,
able to enrol with the Institute of Motor
Engineer Assessors – I was away.
From here I studied a further 昀椀ve years
– with the assistance of my Mentor
at the time Mr Philip Archer – he was
www.iaea-online.org/news/the-assessor | AUTUMN 2025 | THE ASSESSORS JOURNAL
invaluable in my learning and support
being offered. The result was I am
a Quali昀椀ed Motor Engineer and, I
believe, I am the 昀椀rst female engineer
to have passed all the examinations at
the time.
Putting this skill to into action came
when I changed insurers and was
employed as an Engineer. The
challenges I faced were around
the stigma of the role being male
dominated and, yes, then it was.
But when you learn, train and gain
experience through determination and
money (of course, the courses – exams,
don’t come on a sliver plate) you can
achieve anything. Repairers soon came
to realise I wasn’t a wall昀氀ower; I did
/ do know what I am doing and am
aware of my limitations
Now, the insurance industry has
many women in leadership and in the
technical sectors, which is testament
to each and every one of them, as it is
for the gentlemen in the same areas:
if you can do the role and show your
experienced, quali昀椀ed then gender
should not matter.
JOURNAL
19
