Supporting diversity in the profession

The CII values diversity and strives in all of its activities to take account of and reflect the interests of all the people it serves in line with section 5 of our Code of Ethics.

We work to promote ethical business and professional practices among people engaged or working in the insurance and financial advice professions.

Inclusive working environments for disabled people

Watch our awareness video and gain insight into how to achieve a more inclusive working environment.

Watch our most recent CII Radio Podcast Deconstructing Disability.

In the episode of the podcast, we are discussing how Financial Services professionals can truly service individuals with seen/unseen disabilities considering the Financial Conduct Authority’s Consumer Duty Final rules and guidance that went live from July 2023.   We are joined by:

• Sarah Stephenson-Hunter, an EDI professional specialising in disability and LGBTQ+ training, advocacy and public speaking;
• Peter Hamilton, Head of Market Engagement at Zurich, and the Government Disability and Access Ambassador for the insurance industry; and
• Johnny Timpson, a Financial Services Consumer Panel Member and Financial Inclusion Commissioner.

 Our CII initiatives

Insuring Women's Futures is a programme established we've established, aimed at promoting and enhancing the insurance and financial planning profession’s role in relation to women and risk.

Created by UN Women, HeForShe is about making simple, achievable personal commitments which inspire others to join the conversation, show support for gender parity and making all of our lives, and those of whom we serve, more inclusive.

Women in Finance Charter

Leading financial services firms are signing up to a new government Charter designed to improve gender diversity in senior positions in the sector, following Jayne-Anne Gadhia's review of women in finance, Empowering Productivity: Harnessing the talents of women in financial services (PDF).

The CII was one of the first signatories of the Women in Finance Charter.  When we signed up to the Charter in 2016, we had 27% female representation.  The Charter requiring us to commit to a number of actions to promote gender diversity and inclusion. These are:

• Having a senior executive team who are responsible and accountable for gender diversity and inclusion
• Having 40% female representation on our senior executive team (40% at September 2023)
• Having 30% female representation on our board/committees (54% at September 2023)
• Publishing progress annually against these targets
• Having a senior executive bonus scheme linked to delivery against these internal targets on gender diversity

Our workforce is currently (as of September 2024) made up of:

• 231 members of staff in the total workforce
•  63% of staff are female
•  43% of senior managers are female
•  33% female representation on board