Jemma Boyce, business development manager at Equipsme, speaks to Health & Protection about being Equipsme’s first hire, taking inspriation from Aviva CEO Amanda Blanc, successfully turning around the initial industry perception of the proposition to the point people are now knocking on her door, and why she is a girl who just wants to have fun.
How did you get your start in the sector?
My very first job was in finance and then I moved into general insurance. I worked for a while with Matthew Reed, Equipsme’s founder and managing director at Powerplace, and we kept in touch afterwards.
When he set up this new insurtech that aimed to disrupt the health insurance market and extend the reach of PMI to businesses and people who hadn’t been able to access it before, he gave me a call. I was slightly terrified to have to learn about a whole new sector, but really excited to be part of something so innovative. So I become employee 001 at Equipsme.
What do you enjoy most about your current role?
I really like talking and presenting to brokers – and working with them to present Equipsme to clients. Every day is different. And I’ve absolutely loved being part of Equipsme as it’s grown, getting involved in all aspects of the business and actually seeing my ideas incorporated into our development. We’re not a start-up anymore, but we are agile, and it’s great to be trusted and empowered to make a difference. You just don’t get that opportunity working as a cog in a huge machine.
Equipsme is also really family friendly, so the other brilliant thing about my role is how much work/life balance I’ve been able to find. My son is two and a half now, and I feel like I’m able to be there for him and be successful at work, without either suffering.
Who is your role model – in life or in work?
I meet so many wonderful people and have so many inspiring friends – and when I admire qualities in someone I try to learn from them. I’m always looking to be better and to grow, so I suppose everyone I come across is sort of a role model!
Within the industry, if I had to pick one person, I’d say Amanda Blanc. I think she’s done a great deal of good representing women in what’s still a very male dominated field.
Who has been your most important mentor in your career so far and why?
When I first met Matthew I was 19, and he has always given me amazing guidance, support and advice. He’s always believed in me, even when I haven’t, and I wouldn’t be where I am without him.
I’ve also got to give a shout out to Gavin and Andy (Gavin Shay and Andy Santoni, Equipsme’s distribution director and commercial cirector, both also co-founders, who taught me so much about the health insurance and healthcare sectors. And Rhonwen Beesley, operations director and co-founder, who is always such a practical, calm presence when things get challenging.
What advice would you give to people thinking about a career in the sector?
It’s not as boring as you think – honest.
Insurance is all about people – health insurance in particular. It’s very varied, very interesting, and actually very rewarding.
What has been your biggest setback and how did you overcome it?
Covid. I’m a people person, and I was used to being out on the road meeting people and building relationships. I had no idea how I was going to be able to do that stuck at home. But I adapted like we all did.
The other day I delivered a really successful online training session for 160 people at a new brokerage, and just thought to myself, I wouldn’t have been able to do this – to talk to as many in as much detail – without video conferencing. So it all turned out all right in the end.
Laugh or cry – what did your most memorable client or case make you want to do and why?
I had so many laugh or cry moments when we first started out. Brokers were initially very suspicious of our product – because it was just so different. They didn’t get it and didn’t want to. I’d have days where it was just like hitting my head on a brick wall or hammering on a closed door.
Five years on and it’s the opposite. The environment and the market has completely changed. Demand has really surged, and businesses are looking to upgrade from cash plans, cover more of their workforce, and invest in practical, modern health back-up for their staff. Now people are knocking on my door, which is great.
What’s your ultimate goal for your career?
I think my ultimate goal is to be happy at work, and be doing a job I enjoy. I’m really lucky to have found that at Equipsme.
How would your boss describe you?
Conscientious, organised, and weirdly passionate about the Equipsme cause!
What’s your biggest talent away from work?
Being a mum. And believe me, it has not been an easy skill to learn. It’s also constantly changing. Keeping up with that is definitely a talent.
What mantra do you live by?
Something my grandad always said. Life is not a dress rehearsal. Enjoy it.
What song would you regard as your theme tune?
I don’t want a theme tune I want a soundtrack! Possibly including Green Day’s Time Of Your Life and Cyndi Lauper’s Girls Just Want To Have Fun. Anything relatively upbeat, like me.
