The Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) will recognise the efforts of members who have made significant volunteer contributions to insurance institutes across the UK, as part of its annual Volunteer Awards.
Exceptional Service Awards will be presented to Leslie Gillanders of the Insurance Institute of Northern Ireland and Alina Schatten of the Insurance Institute of London. These awards acknowledge contributions made at a regional or national level.
Distinguished Service Awards, which recognise outstanding local contributions, will be given to Nat Brown of the Insurance Institute of Plymouth & Cornwall, Richard Cockbain of the Insurance Institute of Perth & Dundee, Joanne Kirkby of the Insurance Institute of Bolton, and Matthew Pyke of the Insurance Institute of Exeter.
“The Awards represent the very best of volunteering throughout the Local Institute Network around the country, and all recipients should be rightfully proud of their contributions, which go well beyond those to their Local Institutes and often benefit wider communities beyond the insurance profession,” said Callum Beaton, panel chair and deputy president of the CII.
The awards will be presented at the CII’s Network Conference at Loch Lomond on June 19.
The UK insurance sector is increasingly recognising the importance of community involvement, with a notable rise in volunteerism and charitable initiatives among industry professionals. Recent studies highlight a significant uptick in brokers' engagement with local communities, reflecting a broader trend towards corporate social responsibility within the sector.
Leading insurance companies are implementing structured volunteering programmes to encourage employee participation. For instance, Zurich Insurance offers up to three business days per year for volunteering, with employees collectively contributing over 4,000 days of volunteer work annually. Similarly, Covéa Insurance supports its staff with paid leave for volunteering and has organised various fundraising events, raising substantial amounts for causes such as the Ukraine crisis and local schools.
