During the week, I stay at my flat in Reading which is a very short and pleasant walk along the Thames to the office, writes Derek Plummer, commercial director at MMA Insurance.  I drive down from my home in Norwich on a Sunday evening ready for an early start on Monday.

Monday is usually a meeting day and therefore rather internally focused. First off is the weekly forum involving the heads of my teams. This is a catch-up on how the company is progressing against target where we review trading figures and performance and gauge response to our latest broker marketing campaign. Then I meet my direct reports 1-2-1 and work with them on planning the week ahead and what needs to be achieved.

Tuesday was a chance for me to review the latest advertising campaigns with the marketing team and then meet staff in my division - valuable feedback in gauging how they are feeling about the company's progress.

The Belfry

On Wednesday, underwriting director John Seaton and I travelled north to The Belfry for the next in our series of broker road shows. We spent that evening setting up the venue and rehearsing our presentations.  Valuable time for John and I to discuss a whole range of trading issues.

We started early yesterday with a wistful look at the magnificent golf course and a final briefing, lead by our chief executive Garry Fearn, for the MMA team which included our Birmingham colleagues who joined us for the roadshow. We then prepare for the 100 or so brokers we're expecting. After a full rehearsal at 9am, we kicked-off at 10am, I strarted with an overview of MMA, with John then explaining our underwriting philosophy and our approach to bespoke and micro SME. A break for coffee then networking, distribution strategy and a final Q&A session before lunch, giving me the opportunity for some more detailed conversations with 10-12 of the brokers attending. The event has been very well supported so we left in the afternoon feeling pleased with the results and the contacts we've gained. I travelled straight back to Reading, John remaining a little longer to spend some time in Birmingham with his regional underwriting team.

Directors

Today is our regular executive directors meeting chaired by chief executive Garry Fearn where we update each other on our respective areas of responsibilities and discuss strategic issues. This is  followed by a meeting of our risk committee, which involves some of my colleagues from MMA in France, who come over to the UK on a regular basis, and our UK non-exec directors. Overall we're pleased to report that progress is being made on our risk management programme and FSA relationship.

Finally, I take to the road around lunchtime for the drive back to Norwich, trying to avoid spending too much of the weekend trapped in traffic jams on the M4, M25 and M11!  It's often a four-hour drive and after five years of doing it I feel I know almost every blade of grass growing beside the motorway. A time for reflection on the week and to catch up on those never ending telephone calls!

Then a time for me to chill until Sunday evening when my working week begins again...

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