Building a diverse workforce
Retraining
1/3 of ABI members offer a returnship following a period of maternity leave
Inclusive
1 in 5 members work with an organisation to support older workers
Top of the class
Insurers are some of the best employers in the UK
Our industry recognises that in order to maintain its world-leading position, we need to attract, recruit and retain talent from all walks of life. ABI members run programmes across the UK, encouraging and welcoming a diverse pool of candidates back into the workforce. Our commitment to building a diverse workforce has made insurance an attractive sector to work in and has earnt us the title as some of the best employers in the UK.
Easing the transition back to work
ABI member Admiral understands that prolonged periods of unemployment can affect self-confidence. Admiral has teamed up with a jobcentre in Swansea to employ a new team of Customer Care Agents who had been out of work for an extended period.
Similarly, ABI members Allianz and Prudential, offer structured returnship programmes, easing talented professionals back into the workplace after a career break. Both firms ran pilots in their respective offices in Scotland before rolling the programme out across their businesses nationwide.
Harnessing the skills of an ageing population
ABI member Aviva runs a number of initiatives to recruit and retain its over-50s workforce. On the recruitment side, Aviva has targeted advertising campaigns specifically aimed at recruiting older job seekers and has reviewed the language and imagery in all their recruitment materials as not to exclude older candidates. Within their workforce, Aviva has raised awareness and understanding of the challenges facing the over-50s within their workforce with its Mid-life-MOT project.
Read Ken’s story on joining the sector later in his career:
I was a civil servant for 38 years working in London and then Scotland before moving to Yorkshire due to my wife relocating her role and the family’s desire to move to York. In July 2014, at the age of 56, I joined the Aviva Claims Team on a temporary contract. I was able to bring skills from my previous job into this new role.
Today I am a permanent staff member. After requesting flexible working, I now work my hours over four days to make up my full-time hours, which means I get every Wednesday off. The break in the week keeps me refreshed and gives me a good work/ life balance – allowing my wife and I to spend more quality time together.
My job role with Aviva involves answering a wide variety of customer calls. Often they are calling to claim due to a bereavement, a terminal or critical illness. Every day is interesting and rewarding, and I feel that I am making a difference to our customers at what is often a very difficult time for them.”
A sector that tops the scoreboard
Insurers are some of the best employers in the UK. Wales’ biggest employer, Admiral, who employ over 10,00 people in Swansea and Cardiff, has been profiled in the Sunday Times Best Employers List consistently since 2009 and was awarded Best Employer in 2019. Sitting alongside Admiral, ABI members, Aviva and Lloyds Banking Group, have been voted Best Employer for Women in 2019 in The Sunday Times. Lloyds Banking Group also won Working Families, the UK’s leading work-life balance organisation’s Best Large Private Sector employer award and is listed in Stonewall’s Best Employers. Specialist insurer, Hiscox was voted 2018 Best Place to Work by Glassdoor, the anonymous employee review website.
ABI member firms taking action
76%
have a diversity and inclusion strategy
79%
of companies have an internal employee resource group to support inclusivity
61%
have a mentoring programme targeting at developing underrepresented groups on their firm
88%
have an executive sponsor for diversity and inclusion
75%
provide mental health first aid training
58%
have a development programme specifically for women