How two self-employed Agents are building a modern success story
There was a time when ambition meant climbing the corporate ladder – bigger titles, corner offices, incremental raises. But across Scotland, a quieter kind of ambition is taking root. It’s not about status. It’s about ownership. It’s about meaning. And for an increasing number of professionals, it’s found in a business card that reads: Self-Employed Agent of NFU Mutual.
At the Edinburgh Agency of NFU Mutual, that ambition is being realised every day. The business is co-led by Scott Carruthers, Senior Agent and NFU Group Secretary, and Doug Schreiber, who joined the agency network in 2015 and became a self-employed Agent in 2020. Together, they lead a commercial-focused agency that supports clients ranging from bespoke furniture manufacturers to quirky city-centre cafés operating from repurposed police boxes.
Scott brings deep-rooted knowledge of local farming and commercial communities. Doug, meanwhile, specialises in commercial insurance across sectors like hospitality, construction, and motor trade – offering clients a broad, practical perspective. It’s a collaboration built on complementary strengths, shared values, and a clear vision for sustainable growth.
“I wanted to build something of my own,” Doug explains. “Not in a hustle-at-all-costs kind of way. I wanted to shape the business, choose who we work with, and create space to grow – both professionally and personally.”
And in Edinburgh, that ambition is coming to life. Their success is built on practical advice, sector insight, and a clear focus on commercial clients who value lasting relationships. They’re not just building a book of business – they’re known for straight-talking, relationship-driven advice that adds real value.
They’re not alone.
The bigger picture
Recent data from the CIPD Working Lives Scotland 2025 report shows a steady rise in demand for flexible, values-led work. While traditional employment still dominates, there’s growing recognition that autonomy, lifestyle, and purpose matter just as much as salary – or even more.
Scotland’s Office for National Statistics recently noted a slight decline in payrolled employment year-on-year, with self-employment holding its ground. The pandemic-era surge in portfolio careers and side hustles may have receded, but a more sustainable, thoughtful form of entrepreneurship is growing in its place.
Within NFU Mutual’s Agency Network, that shift is quietly accelerating. The opportunity offers something rare: a business you run independently, backed by a national brand – complete with training, tools, and peer support.
“It’s not salaried. It’s not a franchise,” Doug explains. “It’s your business. But you’re never out on a limb.”
The reward – and the reality
Of course, autonomy comes with responsibility. New Agents don’t inherit a ready-made book of business – they create it. That requires drive, commercial instinct, and the confidence to lead from the front. But for the right people, the rewards are unmatched.
“You get out what you put in,” Doug says. “There’s no ceiling. That’s what drew me in.”
It’s not just financial. It’s about legacy. Many of the agency’s clients are family-run businesses thinking generations ahead. That long-term thinking is mirrored in the way Agents build – focusing on sustainable growth, not just quarterly numbers.
“We’re thoughtful about who we work with,” Scott says. “It’s got to be a fit – both commercially and culturally.”
The Next Chapter? It’s all about you.
For those with drive but not for drive’s sake, the NFU Mutual Agency model offers something rare: independence without isolation, ambition with balance, and the chance to build something that truly reflects who you are.
It’s not about stepping away from challenge. It’s about stepping into a role where your effort directly shapes your outcome – backed by a brand that believes in real conversations, long-term relationships and doing business the right way.
Because for a growing number of professionals across Scotland, this isn’t a career change. It’s a complete change in what ambition means.
Explore what it could mean for you: HERE
Or, for a confidential enquiry into a self-employed Agent role within the NFU Mutual Agency Network, please contact Stephan Papantoniou on 07890 395430 or Stephan_Papantoniou@nfumutual.co.uk.
Alternatively, you can apply for our current opportunities in Scotland via the website HERE
