"Everyone deserves to be their authentic self": How Our #WRA24 Sponsors Are Pushing for Change

Canada Life UK, Later Life Adviser of the Year sponsor

Canada Life UK continues to focus on initiatives that advance inclusion and enhance our supportive culture. From developing under-represented talent through cross-company mentoring, or supporting colleagues returning from family leave via our parental buddy system, we’re providing opportunities to colleagues to share experiences and learn from others.  

Whether its talking gender equality over a fireside chat, shining a light on black history or answering questions on social mobility, we aim to raise awareness, take action and deliver positive change. This year we are working on an age data diagnostic of our workforce to enhance our approach to multi-generational working and in our communities, our colleagues provide maths mentoring to young people to help them gain maths qualifications.

Hodge, Woman in Later Life Lending sponsor

Over the past 12 months our Hodge’s Inclusion Network has continued to work hard to help colleague’s past, present and future feel seen and represented. The world is a large, colourful place and we believe everyone deserves to be their authentic self regardless of gender, age, sexuality or beliefs.

HSBC Life, Protection Adviser of the Year sponsor 

At HSBC Life, we work in partnership with colleagues, advisers and customers to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of everything we do.

Thanks to our Enhanced Digital Underwriting innovation, we have improved the inclusivity of our product proposition which also encompasses customers with Type 2 diabetes, who can now be approved for Critical Illness Cover as opposed to in the past when they were previously excluded. We also recognise neurodiversity and no longer classify autism as a mental health issue within our underwriting.

We have made our customer journey for non-binary applicants more friendly, so they need no longer choose categories that they do not want to. This enhancement also applies to brokers where we have amended prefixes to include Mx for their customers, a change which has received positive feedback.

We also offer a range of value-added benefits to all customers who purchased their cover through external distribution partners. These include app-based services, such as mental health support, unlimited digital GP consultations, second medical opinions, remote physiotherapy and an annual health check.

L&C Mortgages, Woman in the Mortgage Industry sponsor

1. We are on a mission to champion an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone feels that they can bring their whole and true self to work. We are still on a journey, but we believe in honesty, transparency and open conversations to create a space where everyone feels they belong. Out of this ethos, the ‘We Belong group’ was formed which is made up of members transcending hierarchy, who are championing change and sharing lived experiences to build community and allyship across the organisation.

2. We recognise that understanding and education play a crucial part in creating an inclusive workplace. We have seen our colleagues share their stories, talking about their experiences and the challenges they have faced. These powerful pieces on hidden disabilities, transgender experiences, men’s health, neurodiversity and what it means to be a female in financial services have been inspirational and have encouraged others to want to share their stories too. We must learn together and from each other.

3. For real change to happen in the ED&I space, it must be supported across all levels of society and a business. We have implemented ED&I training for all our colleagues to promote understanding and have further focussed on our managers, providing specific neurodiversity and mental health training to give them the confidence to have uncomfortable conversations and call out inappropriate use of language and behaviour.

 4. As a broker, we are well placed to work with different parts of the industry and held our first ‘Roundtable’ event, getting ED&I champions together from across the industry to talk about the challenges we face and how we can better work together to make this industry a positive environment for everyone who enters it. Our shared passion and knowledge will drive change – we believe in collaborating, not competing.

5. The language we use is important which is why we have made education a main focus at L&C. Alongside this, we have worked with RCLST to develop cross sector inclusive communication standards, training and accreditation that has been made freely available to all financial services firms, and we have just been reaccredited as communication assessable for the third year.

6. I think we all agree that language is an imperative part of this process for all of us. It has been paramount to L&C to normalise and educate on language to drive uncomfortable conversations into a space where we all feel that we can comfortably contribute. The last 18 months have seen the introduction of new colleague-led policies, which aim to de-stigmatise and open discussions around topics such as the menopause, pronouns, identifying as non-binary and domestic abuse.

Market Financial Solutions, Financial Adviser of the Year sponsor

MFS are keen advocates for diversity and inclusion throughout the workspace. We’re proud to share that 49.59% of our staff are women. Furthermore, an in-house survey that we conducted last year showed that MFS employees speak more than 20 languages combined, including French, Latvian, Portuguese, Greek, Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam, Romanian, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Farsi, Urdu, Gujarati, Marathi and German. The majority (52%) of the team speak multiple languages.

In addition to this, MFS sponsor the Asian Jewish Business Network and often support their Women Inspired group, having hosted one of these amazing events earlier this year.

 
Together, Mortgage Adviser of the Year sponsor

Together is driving for equality within the industry. We are a signatory of the Women in Finance Charter and proud to support female property entrepreneurs, business and homeowners by providing access to finance to realise their ambitions.

We are proud to shine a light on the achievements of women in our industry, hosting our second Women in Finance event this year to create a space for females to develop their network whilst also providing access to educational tools.

This drive for change is replicated in the work that we are undertaking at Together. We are on a journey to see more females in senior leadership positions with four female colleagues appointed to our senior executive team in the last two years.

Our Togetherness Diversity, Equality and Inclusion groups include a Women@Together network which seeks to champion equality and discuss ways to empower women in the workplace.

West One Loans, Woman in Management sponsor

Our ESG forum is now in its third successful year and is bigger than ever. Our newly launched ED&I action group within the forum champions diversity across gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality and disability. As part of this, we have launched a series of new initiatives to support diverse employment, new starter buddies and mentoring.

If you would like to get involved in supporting change in our industry, there are still a handful of categories available to sponsor at the 2024 Women’s Recognition Awards. Simply head to the Sponsor #WRA24 page here on our website to download the media pack and get in touch.

Furthermore, if you’d like to join us for #WRA24 at Roundhouse on 22nd October, you can find the option to book your table on our home page. We hope to see you there!