Aviva launches the Foundry to build Norfolk’s digital workforce

Three people around a desk

Today Aviva launches the Foundry, a Norwich based initiative dedicated to building the region’s digital workforce. The Foundry will offer a range of opportunities for Aviva colleagues, local students and businesses to increase their digital literacy, funded and delivered by Aviva, working in partnership with Decoded, a tech education startup.

The Foundry has three aims:

  • help Aviva colleagues in Norwich develop digital skills for the future to support moves into one of five key roles - Software Developer, Business Analyst, UX Designer, Digital Product Owner and Test Engineer.  The Foundry will help Aviva to fill critical digital roles, with plans to roll out to other regions in the future;
  • support Norfolk T Level students, partnering with Norwich City College, to acquire new skills and offer them work placements and a potential digital career in Aviva;
  • support local businesses, along with Tech East and New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, by gifting part of Aviva’s apprenticeship levy. Aviva has already made its first levy donation of over £300,000.

Danny Harmer, Aviva’s Chief People Officer, said:

“A trained, digital workforce is key to our future success and the launch of the Foundry is an important step forward for Aviva and for Norwich. We want to support local people to grow their careers with us and equip them with the skills they need for the future. Working together – Aviva, Norwich City College and Decoded, can make a lasting and positive difference. This investment in upskilling and reskilling is great for local people, local businesses and the regional economy.”

Richard Peters, Decoded Co-Founder & CEO, said:

"Decoded are proud to be the delivery partners to Aviva on The Foundry for such an ambitious project. Together we will be creating the jobs and skills of the future. Moreover, by extending those learning opportunities to the local community in Norwich and businesses across East Anglia, it is one of the most significant levelling up programmes we have ever seen. One which takes vision, courage and a belief that when people are given the right tools and learning opportunities, anything is possible." 

If you’re a local business and think you’d benefit from the Foundry, you can get in touch at theavivafoundry@aviva.com.

Ends

About Decoded:

Decoded is a world leader in technology education, delivering digital literacy and skills for clients that span the Global 2,000, policymakers and small businesses across every industry and geography.

Decoded's digital and data literacy workshops are sought by organisations seeking to rapidly rewire their digital literacy, culture and skills, in areas including data decision-making, artificial intelligence, data ethics, cyber security and beyond.

Decoded's digital and data academies and bootcamps upskill and re-skill workforces in data analytics, software development, data engineering and product management.

Enquiries:

Joe Booth

Financial Communications

Sarah Swailes

Head of Financial Communications

Notes to editors:

  • We are the UK's leading diversified insurer and we operate in the UK, Ireland and Canada. We also have international investments in India and China.
  • We help our 19.2 million (as at 31 December 2023) customers make the most out of life, plan for the future, and have the confidence that if things go wrong we’ll be there to put it right.
  • We have been taking care of people for more than 325 years, in line with our purpose of being ‘with you today, for a better tomorrow’. In 2023, we paid £25.6 billion in claims and benefits to our customers. 
  • In 2021, we announced our ambition to become Net Zero by 2040, the first major insurance company in the world to do so. We are aiming to have Net Zero carbon emissions from Aviva’s operations and supply chain by 2030. While we are working towards our sustainability ambitions, we recognise that while we have control over Aviva’s operations and influence on our supply chain, when it comes to decarbonising the economy in which we operate and invest, Aviva is one part of a far larger global ecosystem. There are also limits to our ability to influence other organisations and governments. Nevertheless, we remain focused on the task and are committed to playing our part in the collective effort to enable the global transition. Find out more about our climate goals at www.aviva.com/climate-goals and our sustainability ambition and action at www.aviva.com/sustainability
  • Aviva is a Living Wage, Living Pension and Living Hours employer and provides market-leading benefits for our people, including flexible working, paid carers leave and equal parental leave. Find out more at https://www.aviva.com/about-us/our-people/
  • As at 31 December 2023, total Group assets under management at Aviva Group were £376 billion and our estimated Solvency II shareholder capital surplus was £8.8 billion. Our shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange and we are a member of the FTSE 100 index.
  • For more details on what we do, our business and how we help our customers, visit www.aviva.com/about-us
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