AbbeyAutoline recognised for championing gender diversity

Company News

2 min read

Northern Ireland’s largest insurance broker*, AbbeyAutoline, has been recognised for its commitment to championing gender diversity and inclusion.

AbbeyAutoline’s parent company, Prestige Insurance Holdings, has been awarded the Bronze Diversity Mark by Diversity Mark NI for its ongoing work across its group of businesses.

The Diversity Mark is awarded to companies following an independent assessment process which ensures they have reached the required standard of commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion.

It is a ‘Mark of Progress’ that publicly declares that a company is committed to building a more diverse and inclusive workplace to benefit all employees.

As well as AbbeyAutoline, the award has been granted to all other businesses within the group including Prestige Underwriting Services, Prestige Underwriting Services (Ireland), Covernet, Stroll, Customer Claims Assist Limited, Octane Underwriting Services and Reliable Vehicle Solutions.

AbbeyAutoline Managing Director, Julie Gibbons, said she was proud of her team’s role in helping Prestige Insurance Holdings receive the Bronze Diversity Mark.

Julie said: “At AbbeyAutoline we place a strong emphasis on diversity and inclusion which is why we are so proud of this recognition and why we are determined to continue on this journey.

“Diversity in the workplace is such a great asset for any business. Having different people and different viewpoints boosts innovation, creativity and empathy in ways that homogeneous working environments rarely do.

“We work across so many sectors and our customers come from all walks of life, therefore, it is right that we have a workforce that can relate to them and build lasting relationships. After all, people buy from people.

“As well as gender diversity, we also work hard to promote diversity and inclusion in other areas of organisational policy and practice including disability, race and ethnicity, LGBTQ+, age diversity and social mobility.”

Prestige Insurance Holdings CEO, Trevor Shaw said all businesses within the group played a key role in helping to secure the Bronze Diversity Mark.

He said: “Our values define what Prestige Insurance Holdings believes in and how, as a core part of our strategic foundation, our people strive to deliver. Our pledge of “Respect and Integrity” highlights our commitment to treating people with kindness, dignity and professionalism, building trust through responsible actions and honest relationships.

“Achieving the Bronze Accreditation reaffirms this ethos and we look forward to working together as a group of businesses to achieve more in the future, including the development of a group-wide Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Policy.”

The Diversity Mark accreditation process is much more than a tick-box exercise. The application framework enables organisations to identify and take action on any institutional barriers facing minorities and underrepresented groups that can impact on their career progression. 

The Diversity Mark NI Assessment Panel provide expert annual independent feedback to assist organisations in building workplace environments in which all individuals feel valued, are treated fairly and respectfully and have equal access to opportunities.

Christine White, Head of Business at Diversity Mark said: “We are delighted to recognise Prestige Insurance Holdings Limited by awarding them the Bronze Diversity Mark Accreditation.

“Our independent assessment panel welcomed their well-constructed and carefully thought through submission showing an interconnectedness between each of their targets representing a high level of ambition to enhance gender diversity across the group. 

“We congratulate everyone at Prestige on this achievement and we look forward to working with them as they develop their diversity initiatives over the coming years.”

Assessors also acknowledged the continued passion, dedication and persistent striving by the organisations who have been awarded the Diversity Mark this year.

*Verify: https://www.abbeyautoline.co.uk/verify/