Aviva plc, the international savings, investments and insurance group, has launched its global diversity learning resource, the "Respect Diversity Toolkit", at an event attended by HR professionals from FTSE 100 employers including Barclays, Goldman Sachs, UBS, BT, HSBC and Shell.
Aviva plc ("Aviva"), the international savings, investments and insurance group, has launched its global diversity learning resource, the "Respect Diversity Toolkit", at an event attended by HR professionals from FTSE 100 employers including Barclays, Goldman Sachs, UBS, BT, HSBC and Shell. The launch, which took place at Aviva's London headquarters, was held in association with Diverse Culture and NB Global Diversity Practice, who worked with Aviva to produce the toolkit.
Aimed at sharing best practice within the HR community, the launch featured presentations on Aviva's approach to embedding diversity within the business and a demonstration of the "Respect Diversity Toolkit," an extensive online resource for Aviva's 1,000 HR managers around the world.
Comprising a variety of learning tools, the toolkit - which was introduced internationally across Aviva last year - includes case studies, interactive games, presentations, research, bench marking information and an award winning DVD, "Embracing Diversity," all designed to empower HR managers to embed the key principles of diversity and respect around the Aviva world.
Louella Eastman, Aviva's group corporate social responsibility director, said: "Aviva is committed to embracing diversity in everything we do, and the ‘Respect Diversity Toolkit' is designed to make sure we move the diversity agenda forward consistently in every market Aviva operates in around the world. Our aim was to produce a world class resource that would provide a real catalyst for change."
Reena Dayal, senior diversity manager, Aviva said: "The ‘Respect Diversity Toolkit' is the product of considerable consultation, both within Aviva and in the wider HR community. We wanted to use our City launch to share the resulting toolkit with those who helped us refine our thinking on diversity, as well as use our experiences to help other organisations with their diversity programmes."
Jenny Watson, Equal Opportunities Commission chair, said: "Black and Asian women have told us about the ‘unwritten rules' - hidden barriers that can prevent them from realising their ambitions. Without tackling these unwritten rules, change will never come. Our research tells us that practical solutions, suggested by some forward-thinking employers, can contribute to more cultural intelligence in the workplace. Practical resources like Aviva's toolkit should make a really big difference."
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Notes to editors:
- Aviva is the leading provider of life and pensions to Europe with substantial positions in other markets around the world, making it the world's fifth largest insurance group based on gross worldwide premiums at 31 December 2006.
- Aviva's principal business activities are long-term savings, fund management and general insurance, with worldwide total sales of £41.5 billion and assets under management of £364 billion at 31 December 2006.
- The Aviva media centre at www.aviva.com/media includes images, company and product information and a news release archive.