A Culture That Helps You Settle In

Starting a new role can be daunting, but Ray describes his transition into Cowens as anything but.
From the outset, the Xpress team created a welcoming environment, underpinned by clear expectations and engaging training. Josh, Ray’s Manager played a key role in Ray’s early development, ensuring processes were understood while keeping learning interactive and motivating.
Beyond that, what stood out most was the openness of Cowens’ managers.
“They’ve made themselves really available – always open to helping or just listening. That’s something I really value in a manager.”
It is this accessibility, combined with a supportive team ethos, that has allowed Ray to build confidence quickly in his role.

Supporting Growth from Day One

Cowens’ commitment to professional development is not something we simply talk about – it is something our people experience directly.
Ray points to our ongoing investment in training and qualifications, including CII studies, as a major differentiator.
“To have a workplace that’s happy to invest in your education – especially if you’re new to insurance – is amazing.”
This commitment is reinforced by our back-to-back Investors in People awards, but more importantly by the way learning is embedded into everyday working life.
One moment that particularly resonated with Ray was when one of our senior leaders, personally reached out to recognise his consistently improving performance.
“It made me feel seen and valued. That meant a lot.”

A Workplace That Feels Like a Team

When asked what surprised him most about Cowens, Ray doesn’t hesitate: the culture.
There is a strong sense that while everyone understands their role and responsibilities, people are always willing to step in and support one another. That spirit extends beyond departments, reinforced by in-house events that bring the entire business together.
“It really does feel like a work family.”
Within Xpress, friendly competition and regular recognition through Perkbox have also played a part in helping Ray grow his confidence and motivation.

Looking Ahead with Confidence

For Ray, the future at Cowens is clear and exciting.
The opportunity to work towards CII qualifications gives him a tangible goal to pursue, while seeing colleagues progress internally reassures him that Cowens offers a genuine career ladder, not just a starting point.
And for other young people in Mansfield and the East Midlands considering their first step into work, Ray’s advice is refreshingly grounded:
“Choose a company that won’t just see you as an asset to burn out. Make sure the work fits your life outside of work, and that there’s progression or fulfilment. And always go in with an open mind – you’ll learn a lot from the people around you.”

Why This Matters

Ray’s story is just one example of how Cowens invests in people from day one – creating an environment where careers can grow alongside confidence, capability and balance.
If you are looking for more than just a job – and want to build something lasting – Cowens could be the place to start.
 

The post Starting Strong: Ray’s First Steps into a Career at Cowens appeared first on Cowens.

Innovation and brand value increasingly sit in intangible assets – patents, trademarks, designs and know-how. Yet many businesses underestimate both their value and their vulnerability. This partnership brings together expert legal IP protection with specialist insurance solutions, giving clients a more complete and commercially resilient approach to safeguarding what sets them apart.

A joined-up approach to IP risk
Panoramix IP provides specialist legal advice on identifying, securing and enforcing intellectual property rights, while Cowens delivers tailored insurance solutions designed to manage the financial exposure that comes with protecting and defending those rights.

From Cowens’ perspective, effective protection doesn’t stop at legal registration.

Mark Wilson, Managing Director at Cowens Survival Capability, adds:
“IP protection is only truly effective when businesses can afford to defend it.
By partnering with Panoramix, we ensure clients have both strong legal foundations and the insurance needed to manage financial exposure.”
 
Why this partnership matters for clients

By working together, Cowens and Panoramix IP offer clients:
Clear identification of IP assets – ensuring businesses understand what they own and why it matters.
Robust legal protection – through specialist advice and structured rights management.
Financial resilience – with insurance solutions designed to support enforcement, defence and dispute costs.
Seamless referrals – reducing friction and ensuring clients receive the right support at the right time
This integrated approach helps businesses move beyond compliance and towards strategic protection, where IP becomes a managed, defendable commercial asset rather than an afterthought.

Supporting growth with confidence
For many growing businesses, IP risk is not theoretical – it can directly impact valuation, investment, market access and long-term viability. With legal clarity and financial protection working together, organisations can innovate, expand and compete with greater confidence.
This partnership reflects Cowens’ commitment to delivering protection that enables prosperity – not just limits downside.

Protection. Prosperity. Peace of Mind

The post Strengthening IP Protection: Cowens Group partners with Panoramix IP appeared first on Cowens.

Starting with Opportunity, Not Experience

Harry joined Cowens in 2022 after spotting a trainee role advertised online. With no background in insurance, the fact that Cowens was actively recruiting and investing in people at the very start of their careers stood out immediately.

That commitment to on-the-job training and long-term development gave Harry the confidence that Cowens was somewhere he could build a career, not just take a job.

Finding the Right Fit and Progressing Quickly

Harry began his career in new business, gaining a strong grounding in the fundamentals of commercial insurance. As his performance developed, managers identified that his strengths were particularly well suited to renewals, where relationship management, technical understanding, and consistency are critical.

That move proved pivotal. Over time, Harry’s knowledge deepened and he naturally became a go-to person within the team – supporting colleagues, sharing insight, and helping resolve challenges. When the opportunity to step into the Renewals Team Lead role arose in September 2024, Harry was ready.

Regular one-to-one meetings, appraisals, and open conversations about career ambitions meant the transition into leadership felt supported rather than daunting.

Leadership Rooted in Culture

For Harry, the culture within Cowens Xpress has been fundamental to both his development and his leadership style. An open, honest environment – where colleagues can approach one another with internal or external challenges – has created a close-knit, high-performing team.

That culture shapes how he leads day to day. He recognises that every individual responds differently to management, and effective leadership means adapting your approach to help each person perform at their best.

The most rewarding part of his journey so far has been seeing that growth reflected in others -supporting team members through problems, building their confidence, and helping them reach their potential.

Working with Family – Professionally

Harry also has the unique experience of working alongside family at Cowens. Rather than complicating things, it has strengthened trust, support, and collaboration. Clear professional boundaries ensure work remains impartial, while the shared experience has brought them closer outside the office as well.

Looking Ahead

Having spent over a year in a leadership role, Harry continues to build his management capability. Cowens has supported this progression through on-the-job training, mentoring from previous team leads, and formal leadership courses.

Looking ahead, Harry’s ambition is clear: to take on greater responsibility, lead larger teams, and continue developing towards a future management role.

Advice for Future Leaders

For anyone considering a role within Cowens Xpress and aspiring to leadership, Harry’s advice is simple: apply yourself. Cowens actively supports career progression, invests in its people, and provides the structure and encouragement needed to turn ambition into reality.

The post From Trainee to Team Lead: Harry’s Career Journey at Cowens appeared first on Cowens.

In Part One, we explored how Lisa and her sons first joined the business. In Part Two, we look at how their careers have developed, the training they’ve received, and what it means to build a future at Cowens as a family.

1. Early Careers & Development

Lisa: The Evolution of Cowens

Q: What stands out most from your early days at Cowens?
Lisa: Everything being manual. No computers. Lots of paper. A formal dress code. It was a very hands-on environment where everything relied on phone calls and face-to-face interaction.

Matthew: From the Unknown to Broking & Risk Surveying

Q: How did it feel starting your career here, and how did your role develop?
Matthew: Starting any new job is daunting, but having grown up around Cowens helped. I already knew many of the people, so the unknown wasn’t quite so scary.

I’m proud to follow in the footsteps of both my Mum and Dad. Cowens has done a lot for my family. In fact, because my parents met here, I always joke that I literally wouldn’t exist without this business!

The opportunities I’ve had have been brilliant. Working in both Broking and Risk Surveying has given me a deeper understanding of material risk, security, construction, and building materials, which helps us win business and give clients the right solutions.

Oliver: Why Financial Planning?

Q: What drew you into financial planning and paraplanning?
Oliver: My Finance A-level sparked my interest. And my dad was an insurance broker, but I didn’t fancy that route!

Paraplanning is the natural next step for anyone aiming to become a financial adviser. It’s technical and detailed- shaping advice, drafting client reports, and supporting advisers. You start thinking like an adviser without the pressure straight away. It’s the perfect stepping stone.

2. Family Influence & Career Motivation

Lisa: Watching Two Sons Build Their Careers

Q: How does it feel seeing your sons working at Cowens?
Lisa: I’m immensely proud of them and what they’ve accomplished.

Matthew: Inspired by Stability & Support

Q: How did your mum’s experience influence your decision to join?
Matthew: A lot. In Mansfield, proper career opportunities are limited. Cowens is one of the few places where you can build a stable future.

My Insurance Certificate and Diploma were funded by Cowens, and last year the business also paid for my NEBOSH General Certificate, including accommodation for two weeks in Birmingham.
Seeing how well Mum was looked after gave me confidence I’d be in good hands too.

Oliver: A Different Perspective, Same Conclusion

Q: Did your mum or brother’s experiences shape your path?
Oliver: Definitely. Their experiences showed me Cowens was a place where people were supported.

In Mansfield, genuine career opportunities are rare. Cowens offered that. My Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning was fully funded- a huge investment in me both financially and in terms of trust. It made the decision to stay and grow here an easy one.

Closing Reflection

Across two generations and three career paths, one theme stands out: Cowens is a place where people can build long-term, meaningful careers.

From Lisa’s first day in 1984 to Matthew’s broking expertise and Oliver’s journey towards becoming a Financial Planner, this is more than a family story; it’s a celebration of opportunity, development, and a business culture that invests in people.

The post Cowens Careers: Building Futures- Part Two appeared first on Cowens.

Edward Hamilton comments- “This is the process of convincing a victim to willingly send money to a Hacker using very, VERY convincing conversation.

I have personally had experience of three friends in the last few months who were on the verge of losing money to these types of attacks and whilst it is most likely you will get a call from these hackers as a home user, the benefit of this advice does also carry over to your work. I am not attempting to scare with the following points, but these hackers are professional and organised. So please pay attention on these brief guidelines to stop you becoming their next victim:

• If in ANY doubt when someone calls you from a Bank or Internet Service Provider or Software Company, hang up and call them directly using a previously known number. Even if you were expecting a call from that company. This is the same advice as don’t reply to a suspicious email, just use existing contact details you already trust. If the Hacker calls you back, do the same thing again – Call the company directly or get advice from your local trusted IT Manager. Just to note, you will never receive a legitimate call from Microsoft – tell them you will alert the police and to not call back.

• No-one and I mean NO-ONE that you do not trust implicitly, will EVER ask you to download and run a file on your Computer. If they do, do NOT do it. This allows the hacker full access to your computer. Once that happens, literally everything you access is now compromised. Once you realise what has happened, you will (or should) spend the next few days changing the passwords on literally everything. And your online identity is also now at risk and you have now been added to a list of targets that is shared amongst criminals. You can then expect more calls of a similar nature.

• There are various, very clever ways of convincing you the caller is legitimate. This is called Social Engineering and several very switched on individuals I know, have been caught out.

• If you pay these criminals, in most cases you will not be able to recover the payment from the bank because ‘you’ paid them and the money was not stolen.

• So – you get a call, you think it is legitimate. You allow them to run some stuff on your PC. At some point you think – this does not feel right. You must immediately kill your internet connection. Simplest way is to turn off your main router. That will buy you some time to speak to your bank to freeze your account but you must act quickly. It becomes a race against time to stop money disappearing from your online bank accounts and remove access to critical things like your email account. Your computer must also be checked for any surreptitious software before it is allowed back onto the internet.

If you are a business and are concerned about your cyber risks, please contact Cowens on 01623 649931 or info@cowensgroup.co.uk

Cowens- Insuring your future today…Ensuring your future tomorrow

The post How to spot Social Engineering- An interview with Edward Hamilton, Cowens IT Manager appeared first on Cowens.

The legal requirement for fire door maintenance

According to the Fire Safety Order, all fire-rated doors must be correctly installed and properly maintained. Failure to adhere to this legal obligation means that your doors will be considered unfit for purpose, and you have breached the safety order. This could lead to prosecution or the closure of your building. Please visit the Fire Door Inspection Scheme for more information on ensuring your door complies with the regulation.

Checks need to be conducted every six months.

Fire door maintenance doesn’t have to be daily, but you should plan to conduct an inspection every six months or once a quarter in a newly occupied building. If it’s a busy building where fire doors are regularly used, it is good practice to check for damages weekly. Remember to keep inspection records and encourage staff to report any issues.

Checking a fire door and frameset

When conducting an inspection, ensure the job is carried out thoroughly to comply with regulations. This involves ensuring the gap between the door frame, and the door is right, and the seals are not damaged. The gap around the door frame should be about 3-4mm all the way around. Ideally, a pound coin can be used to check the gap around the door. Also, the signage should be correct, and the transfer grille should be free of blockage. Check that the smoke seals are in good condition and fit the entire length of the door whilst being secure in the groove. If seals are incorrectly fitted or damaged, they should be replaced with the same size and intumescent material that was specified originally. If smoke seals have to be replaced, these should be fitted in a continuous length if possible.

Fixing Found Faults

If your inspection reveals that your fire doors need repairing, then you should do it as soon as possible. Ensure that any replaced components are compatible with the door and the right tools were used to conduct repairs. If you are unsure of any components, check your fire door certificate data sheet or contact the manufacturer. When checking for faults, ensure that your fire door is in a fully closed position and the door seals are correctly in the door frame when not in use. To check this

• Open the door fully and check that it closes without dragging across the floor
• Open the door to approximately 5 – 10 degrees wide and check that it properly closes, engaging any seal or latch.
• The door closing speed should be five seconds from a 90-degree angle, ensuring that it does not slam shut.
• Hinges should be screwed firmly into the door frame with no visible marks, wear or stains around the hinge knuckle.

• If you have multiple fire doors, it might be a good idea to buy a digital force gauge that helps you to identify the opening and closing forces.

Certification

Fire doors should meet the British Standard EN 12519 and be marked and certified tested by the British Woodworking Federation (BWF). This label should be placed at the top of the door or just below the door set hinge. The label should not be painted over or tampered with as it invalidates its certification. If the label is damaged, contact the manufacturer immediately.

For guidance on a number of risk management subjects along with our comprehensive Fire Door Guide, which gives further information on the specification and maintenance of Fire Doors, subscribe to our newsletter.

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