Link brochure

About Link

Membership – Our membership continues to grow at a rapid pace. We have over 450 members from more than 165 firms (in 2014 we had 380 members from 150 firms).

Engagement and leadership – We look to harness the energy of our varied membership: • Our steering committee has 12 reps from AIG, Allied World, Aon, Argo, Aviva, Axa, EY, Norton Rose Fulbright, RPC, StarStone, Stonewall, Willis and XL Catlin • Steering committee and other members have played a leading role in creating “Out in the Market”, the LGBT day at DiveIn, Lloyd’s of London’s first ever Diversity Festival • Many firms are now supporting our monthly events – in Leeds, Manchester and London.

Recognition – Link was recognised in 2015 by Inclusive Networks as a leading Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) network.

Visibility – Link participates in the Stonewall dinner, the Pride in London Dinner and various Pride events, as well as, events hosted by supporting firms.

Reach – From an initial London base, Link now has an active chapter in Leeds and Manchester, and is in discussion with supporters in other regions about further launches.

Helping firms attract the best talent – Link works to create and maintain a workplace that attracts the best LGBT talent to the insurance industry.

An inclusive vision – Whilst maintaining a focus on issues pertinent to the LGBT community, we play a role in joining up the many strands of D&I. Communicating the economic case – We work to ensure that the economic case for cultivating an inclusive workplace and LGBT issues are on the agendas of all executive committees within the insurance sector.

Access point for resources – In furthering our inclusive vision, we work closely with Stonewall and other experts to encourage firms to become Diversity Champions, to participate in the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index, and to embrace best practice.

Networking opportunities – Both formal and informal, Link provides welcoming and inclusive opportunities for members to build their personal networks and to share best practice.

Experts – In furthering our inclusive vision, we work closely with Stonewall and other experts to encourage firms to become Diversity Champions, to participate in the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index, and to embrace best practice.

Charity – Link has supported the charity Switchboard at two recent events, raising money for its important work.

Diversity the make-up of the workplace by demographics and other determining factors, such as age, ethnicity/race, gender, sexual orientation, faith, socio-economic status, family circumstances and physical ability

the extent to which employees feel valued and included by an organisation

Inclusion

Why is Diversity & Inclusion important?

TEXT HERE is not the latest fad or fashion; it’s not the Diversity & Inclusion (D&I)

latest business language or HR speak. It’s an ongoing endeavour of collaboration which strives to make the Insurance market the best place to work

Attracting, motivating and retaining the best talent achieves better results

TEXT

Prospective employees want to know that they will feel valued and included

Evidence suggests that employees who feel included perform better There is a clear correlation between enhanced business performance and broader team diversity

TEXT HERE D&I matters to the top and bottom lines

“Concealing sexual orientation at work reduces productivity by up to 30%.

People who have ‘come out’ in supportive workplaces are more creative, loyal and productive.”

Stonewall

18 INSURANCE

FINANCIAL SERVICES

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Stonewall Workplace Equality Index 2014: Top 100 companies Stonewall Workplace Equality Index 2014: Number of diversity champions in each sector Numbers are out of 100

Diversity has many strands. Link focuses on Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) issues, but puts these at the heart of the wider talent agenda, encompassing all diversity strands.

The insurance industry would like to pride itself on attracting the best talent from across the UK. According to a recent report by PwC, entitled “Dealing with disputes� only 1% of students surveyed were interested in working in insurance when they leave school, while 64% of insurance CEOs worried about a gap in key skills.

One part of the problem is a perceived lack of diversity.

D&I is increasingly becoming a topic at board level, with several large brokers and insurers having already launched employee resource groups to engage staff, customers and suppliers on the issue.

Out of a survey of 821 global executives:

61% said their teams have become

more diverse* in composition

85% agreed that

A diverse company is more likely to see:

inclusive leadership*

is an effective means of improving team performance

Improved market share‡

45%

more likely

Success in new markets‡

70%

more likely

A diverse workforce will see:

Team collaboration†

Retention rate†

19%boxout boxout 57%Boxout higher

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†

Sources:

* EY † The Centre for Talent Innovation ‡ The Corporate Leadership Council

How we can help Knowing where to begin when building and maintaining a diverse and inclusive staff base can be difficult. This is where Link can help.

Ready-made LGBT Network – Knowing where to begin, and beginning, can be difficult. Link can help. Link provides a ready-made LGBT network for insurance professionals and employees. Link is an access point for policy and best practice in relation to LGBT issues and D&I generally.

Start Diversity Conversations – Link can help with starting the internal conversation around LGBT inclusion in the workplace (many of our members have been through the process themselves in their own workplace). Link also provides a forum for our corporate partners to work together to collaborate and share ideas on delivering positive change.

Develop your People – Our network of professionals provides a welcoming and inclusive environment at events. We believe that Link membership can assist with an individual’s development, and ultimately help to boost a company’s performance.

What Link members say ...

“Networking with other insurance professionals through Link provides the opportunities and knowledge that enable me to steer my career in the right direction.”

Jack Brown, Assistant Underwriter, Argo Global

“Getting involved with Link helped me develop my network, ultimately helping me to move into my current role.”

Erik Johnson, Assistant Vice President Business Development, Allied World Assurance

“Link has provided a great opportunity for networking, helping others with career mentoring and getting to know other parts of our huge and important industry. There is always an opportunity to learn and I value that hugely.”

Richard Beaven, Distribution Director, Swinton

What Link supporters say ...

“There are now 10 member (Stonewall Diversity Champion) insurance firms: AIG, Aon Limited, Aviva, AXA Insurance, Legal & General Group, Lloyd’s of London, LV=, Swiss Re, XL Catlin and Zurich. This is progress. But consider this out of a total of over 1,000 insurance firms with offices in London.”

Greg Case, Chief Executive, Aon

“I think it is important for the insurance industry to engage with LGBT talent issues, and attending Link’s launch event is a great opportunity for the industry to show support and get involved.”

Paul Jardine, Chief Experience Officer, XL Catlin, Deputy Chairman of Lloyd’s

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“Lloyd’s is at the forefront of the specialist insurance and reinsurance market globally.

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Link successes

A thriving and engaged membership • Over 450 members from over 165 firms.

• Monthly networking events.

• S ummer and Christmas events attracting the highest level CXO speakers and attendees.

Partnering • Successfully partnering with Stonewall around Diversity Champions and the Workplace Equality Index. Link does not seek to duplicate (or take credit for) the work of Stonewall, but Link acts as a facilitator and introducer, raising the profile of D&I within the industry.

• In 2012, 3 firms were Diversity Champions, in 2015 there are 10.

• More firms than ever participate in the Workplace Equality Index (although only one features in the top 100… work still to do!).

• There is now a dedicated insurance industry section in Stonewall’s “Starting Out Guide” that is sent to careers advisors in schools and universities across the country.

• A representative from Stonewall sits on Link’s steering committee.

• Various introductions at CXO level have been and continue to be made.

Media and social media • Coverage in Insurance Day, Post Magazine, The IIL Journal, Insurance People, and the Insurance Insider.

• Active Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and website.

• Inclusive Networks recognised Link in its #Awesome100.

• We publish a monthly newsletter through various channels.

Industry engagement • Link has engaged with insurers, reinsurers and brokers, hosting CXO dinners, regular meetings, and formal and informal events to help companies on their journey towards making insurance a more attractive sector for all talent, not just LGBT talent.

• We supported the establishment of several new LGBT employee resource groups.

• A large number of members participated in Pride in London, alongside supporting firms.

• We launched a presence in Northern England, Link Up North, and are in discussions about further regional launches.

Contact us

Link successes

www.lgbtinsurancenetwork.co.uk