Current guidance on accessing the Underwriting Room

Latest update (15 July)

We’re looking forward to welcoming you back to the Lloyd’s building next week following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions. From Monday 19 July, we will be removing the class of business timetable along with the one-way systems, social distancing requirements at boxes, the requirement to wear masks in all public areas (this is now a personal choice, so please respect others), and the digital booths. The canteen will be fully open, in addition to the current 'click and collect' system through the Upay app and we will be removing the Perspex screens across the Underwriting floors over the coming weeks. Lift capacity has increased, but you are encouraged to use your masks at busy times. The temperature check on arrival will still be available for anyone wishing to use this and hand sanitiser and wipes will be available throughout the building.

The building will once again be open to all visitors from 19 July, but any international visitors must ensure they have complied with the current government travel restrictions before entering the building.

If you have been in the building and subsequently receive a positive COVID test, please email the helpdesk. To read the latest Risk Assessment, select here.

We hope to see more of you return to the building over the coming months and look forward to having the buzz back in the Underwriting Room once again.

Digital enhancements

We have taken this opportunity to accelerate the implementation of digital enhancements and technology to complement and connect with the best features of the physical Underwriting Room, as part of our Future at Lloyd’s ambition. This includes:

Connect Bar: Located on the Ground Floor, we are creating a ‘connect bar’ for market participants to receive training and assistance with virtual meeting platforms, tools and products

Faster Wifi: We have improved the wifi on all underwriting floors to ensure it is faster and easier to connect to wherever you are in the building

New screens: We have improved some of the digital signage within the Underwriting Room to help communicate key information for the market

Virtual Room

The Virtual Room enables brokers and underwriters to connect and collaborate online alongside the physical trading environment. It is open to all classes of business in the UK and we encourage you to sign up if you are yet to do so.

Since its launch in September with the first cohort of market users operating in US property, we have undertaken extensive user testing to gather feedback on how we can enhance the user experience. This includes the new Meet Now / Meet Later functionality which enables calendar integration between the Virtual Room and users’ own calendars. And we won’t be stopping there – look out for more enhancements coming soon!

More information:

• For further information on what you need to do to get started, including a demo, please contact virtualroom@lloyds.com
• If you are already using the Virtual Room and want to set up additional users across all classes of business, please email us
• You can find out more about our work to date on the Virtual Room in our Future at Lloyd's blogs and in our newsletter. To subscribe, please register to receive our monthly newsletter and sign up to receive updates on all things related to the Future at Lloyd’s and the opportunity to get involved and take part in research.

Future of the Underwriting Room

As our ways of working change and we embrace digitisation, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape the future design of the iconic Underwriting Room and supporting spaces in the Lloyd’s building. That’s why we completed an extensive consultation throughout Q1 2021 to explore different needs and future requirements for the shared spaces and services within the Lloyd’s building, as well as how these interact with different digital solutions. We’re now incorporating your feedback into the final vision, which we look forward to sharing with you in Q2 2021. 

Find out more