As a large, responsible insurer, we think it is important to raise the profile of CSR in our industry and help to develop good practice and standards. In 2007, we engaged with external organisations to raise awareness of CSR issues and improve the way we, and others, do business.

Flood awareness

For example, as part of our ongoing commitment to raise awareness of the issue of flooding, we gave oral evidence to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee in November 2007. Sitting alongside the Association of British Insurers and another UK insurer, we spoke to the Committee about our experiences of the 2007 floods, and how we had gone the extra mile to help our policy holders who were affected. This included bringing in extra resource from overseas to deal with claims, and sending a special claims bus to the worst-hit places.

We also used this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to policy holders and the provision of flood insurance, while firmly stating that significant progress needs to be made by the Government and those responsible for flood risk management. 2008 will see us continuing this debate further, engaging with policy makers and other key stakeholders to ensure that our views are well represented and that flood insurance can remain in place in the UK.

Insuring for Sustainability

By participating in an insurance working group and contributing case studies for publication in its Insuring for Sustainability report, we assisted the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Finance Initiative, a unique global partnership between UNEP and the private financial sector, to develop and promote links between the environment, sustainability and financial performance.

“We have forged a global partnership with insurance leaders to tackle the myriad of environmental and social challenges of our time – and to unearth the vast opportunities. As the UK’s largest insurer, we applaud Norwich Union’s commitment to sustainability and contribution to this agenda-setting report.” Paul Clements-Hunt, head, United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative

East of England Skills Academy for Financial Services

We also doubled our investment in the East of England Skills Academy for Financial Services, to £200,000 over the next five years. This financial commitment gives us an opportunity to influence the development of skills and qualifications of direct benefit to us, to students and to other businesses in the East of England, such as customer service, relationship management and retail financial services.

Promoting health and fitness

We have partnered with the Youth Sport Trust and the Government to support Dame Kelly Holmes in her role as National School Sport Champion, promoting alternative health and fitness activities to complement traditional PE lessons. Dame Kelly Holmes has already met 28,000 pupils and teachers through this partnership.