Aviva has received an Opportunity Now award for its "Think Again" workplace diversity campaign.
Aviva has received an Opportunity Now award for its "Think Again" workplace diversity campaign. The award was presented by Carolyn McCall, chief executive of Guardian Newspapers Ltd late last week, at a dinner held in London. Opportunity Now is a part of Business In the Community.
Aviva was the winner of the "City Award", recognising businesses within the City of London for commitment to innovation and progress in creating gender-inclusive workplaces. The award was accepted by members of Aviva’s cross-functional global diversity team.
Aviva’s innovative Think Again diversity campaign recognises the need to support women within its workforce and the importance of a fair and equitable workplace for all.
Aviva’s diversity strategy was informed by employee focus groups, survey data and 360 degree feedback, providing Aviva with a rich pool of data on employee attitudes and experiences. Aviva’s campaign includes; the development of a senior women’s network conference, gender review of talent management practices, improved policies on workplace flexibility, and the development of a ground-breaking diversity DVD, and on-line game and website aimed at communicating diversity issues to staff.
Aviva’s Think Again diversity DVD has already won two global awards at the New York Film and Video festival and the on-line game won a Clarion award.
Speaking about the Opportunity Now win, Aviva’s group strategy and development director Mark Webb said that the award marks an eighteen-month period of sustained focus on developing and communicating the Think Again diversity message to Aviva’s 59,000 staff worldwide: “I’m delighted that Aviva’s Think Again campaign has received such recognition. The campaign has seen the culmination of a sustained cross-functional effort which has included human resources, marketing and communication teams, directed by Aviva’s group diversity director Louella Eastman”.
Mark says that, while it is nice to receive public acknowledgement for the Think Again campaign, Aviva’s focus remains committed to embedding its gender-inclusive policies, making them a core part of how Aviva operates: “Through this campaign Aviva has made sustained changes to policies affecting our employees to ensure that they are inclusive, fair and flexible to the needs of Aviva’s diverse workforce. The Think Again diversity campaign is just part of our commitment to becoming employer of choice”.
Norma Jarboe, director of Opportunity Now, said that Aviva had shown great determination, vision and commitment in creating a work culture which is inclusive and diverse.
“They have clearly acknowledged the business benefits of creating a workplace which taps the talents of both men and women. If more employers followed the lead of Aviva, the UK economy, their businesses and their staff could benefit immensely," said Norma.
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Notes to editors:
- Aviva is the world’s sixth-largest insurance group based on gross world-wide premiums and market capitalisation (at 31 December 2004); it is one of the leading providers of life and pensions in Europe and has substantial businesses in other markets around the world.
- Aviva’s main activities are long-term savings, fund management and general insurance, with world-wide total income of Ł40 billion and assets under management of Ł280 billion at 31 December 2004.
About Opportunity Now:
- Opportunity Now is the leading UK membership organisation working towards gender equality and diversity in the workplace. It provides innovative thought leadership on gender in the workplace and develops shares and celebrates best practice in overcoming the barriers to the recruitment, retention and development of women. As an organisation it has a membership of over 360 employers with a combined workforce of over 4.2 million employees. Opportunity Now is part of Business in the Community.