The two week visit was the latest in a series of internships which had seen six young brokers head to experience life as a London market broker.

The scheme was launched at the seminar in 2004 and is open to young brokers in the marine and energy classes with one to eight years experience

During the trip the candidates will spend one week at Lloyds as a part of this program. During the program they will learn about the Lloyds' market and how it operates first hand and meet with underwriters and brokers from the Lloyd’s market.

Lloyd’s also encourages the successful candidate's employer to consider a second week in London after the US Broker program with one of their broker partners in the UK to enhance the experience.

Following the success and feedback of the candidates on 2006 and 2007 last year the number of candidate places per year was doubled and Lloyd’s said the market remained “keen to show its commitment to the marine and energy insurance sectors in Houston by supporting the further education of young insurance professionals”.

To win the intern prize the candidates are asked to submit their CV, details of their current work experience and a 1000 essay on an insurance related topic which is set by the market and is judged by the Houston marine Seminar Committee.

This year the topic was "What are the long term benefits/disadvantages to fluctuations is the market capacity? Use specific examples from the current (especially Lloyds) market.” The shortlisted candidates are then invited for a face to face interview before the decision is made.

This year’s competition was and keenly contested as ever with 10 broker firms invited to put forward candidates for consideration. The winners were Alexander Baron, and Zachary Gleason, both  Associate Underwriters at Aon.

Houston Marine Seminar Chairman Steve Weiss said the standard of this year’s entries were as high as ever.

“Many of the young brokers which enter the competition will already have higher degrees such as MBAs and we were once again impressed by the submission which showed a high degree of research had gone into the work,” he said. “For the winners it is two week where they spent there time inside Lloyd’s with brokers not only learning how the market operates but also gaining an understanding of the approach of the broker and underwriter in a subscription market. They hopefully also build contacts which will prove of further benefit as they progress in the industry.”

Under the terms of the intern scheme the winning candidates’ travel, accommodation are funded for the trip and Mr. Weiss says remains a very popular prize.

“We sent two candidates this year but we would love to send more but there are both time and funding issues and it was decided that two is the optimum number and a fortnight gives the opportunity to get a good understand in the way Lloyd’s operates.”