The London & International Insurance Brokers' Association (LIIBA) has teamed up with mental health training provider Self Space to launch a new programme aimed at strengthening workplace culture across its membership, as the London broking market prepares for tougher regulatory expectations on conduct.
The initiative seeks to build environments where staff feel able to speak up, arriving as regulators sharpen their focus on psychological safety and open cultures that surface concerns before they escalate into conduct or reputational issues.
Previously reported, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) closed its policy work on non-financial misconduct in December 2025 with Policy Statement PS25/23, which takes effect on September 1, 2026.
The rule widens the FCA's Code of Conduct to cover bullying, harassment and violence at work across all firms under the Senior Managers and Certification Regime, including London market brokers.
The guidance stresses that not all poor behaviour will breach the rules, with the FCA pointing to factors such as pattern, duration, impact and seniority.
PwC has said firms should ensure staff "communications and training" are in place ahead of the September deadline, and should adopt a clear internal definition of non-financial misconduct that can be applied across codes of conduct, HR policies and whistleblowing procedures.
LIIBA's move follows cross-market workshops held in 2025, during which broker firms flagged gaps around capturing culture-related management information and defining the role of whistleblowing champions.
The opening session, part of a broader programme, will deliver CPD-certified mental health champion training. The curriculum centres on building psychologically safer cultures, strengthening speak-up confidence, equipping colleagues to identify issues earlier, and supporting healthier leadership behaviour before matters escalate.
The in-person training day is reserved for member firms and is being extended to brokers of all sizes – a format typically confined to in-house programmes within larger organisations.
Jacqueline Girow (pictured above), who leads Belonging@LIIBA, the association's culture, equity and inclusion programme, said member feedback indicated that while firms recognise the importance of workplace mental health awareness, colleagues need further support to develop as leaders, listeners and culture influencers.
She added that the Self Space training "builds confidence with a focus on prevention and maintenance, crucial in creating psychological safety."
Self Space, founded in 2017, describes itself as the UK's first on-demand high-street mental health service, with sites across London including Shoreditch, Soho, King's Cross and Spitalfields. Its therapists are registered with the HCPC, BACP, UKCP and NCS.
The firm says it now has more than 70 qualified therapists and corporate clients spanning tech, consumer and advertising, including Huel, Selfridges, Depop, Stella McCartney and Omnicom.
Jodie Cariss, founder and chief executive, said the partnership comes as many firms are taking culture, conduct and psychological safety more seriously.
"Proactive mental maintenance at work is not just about awareness; it's about giving people practical skills and confidence to notice issues earlier, support better conversations, and help create healthier, safer workplace cultures before problems escalate," she said.
Places on the training day are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
