CII and Scope unite to make insurance an inclusive profession

The insurance profession must face up to the need to do more to ensure everyone has the same access to employment, according to Sian Fisher, CEO of the Chartered Insurance Institute.

The CII has partnered with Scope – the disability equality charity – to develop guidance on reporting and developing a diverse, inclusive working environment for people with disabilities.

The report, published today, states those working in the insurance profession need to collect and report on their workforce’s disability data so that bosses can identify how many staff identify as disabled and how their experiences compare with their colleagues.

Scope found many employers collect this data but few publish it publicly or use it to understand where disabled employees face barriers at work and use this evidence to inform plans to become more inclusive organisations.

The charity said that publicly reporting disability data will show disabled people that the insurance profession is committed to creating an inclusive environment for disabled people to work in.

The report explains how to collect data, what kind of information should be gathered plus ways to support the career progression of disabled members of staff.

Fisher said: “Hurdles which prevent people with disabilities from securing work, succeeding in work or even having access to things often taken for granted such as affordable insurance premiums for travel, need to be found and replaced with the right culture of support.

“There is no shame in facing up to any current shortfall in meeting the needs of employees, particularly those with disabilities, as long as this is followed up by action to do better.

“Businesses cannot survive if they ignore sections of society, whether it is in their employment practices or within their potential customer pool. We want our profession, a mature and innovative market of ideas, to be held up as a standard for others to follow.”

Johnny Timpson, disability champion of the department for work & pensions, said: “I fully support and look forward to working with the Chartered Insurance Institute and Scope on this collaborative initiative to make the insurance industry and profession a career destination of choice for people with disabilities, seen and/or unseen.

“What better way to understand the needs of disabled consumers and all customers at moments of vulnerability than by employing colleagues with a disability - be it seen or unseen?”

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