Peter Hamilton appointed Disability and Access Ambassador for Government Disability Unit

Peter Hamilton, Zurich’s Head of Market Engagement will be representing the Insurance sector.

The Ambassador roles are voluntary posts, undertaken for a maximum of three years and supported by the Cabinet Office Disability Unit.

They are appointed by the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work as industry leaders who help to drive improvements in the accessibility and quality of services and facilities in their sector for disabled people, as consumers and employees.

Peter Hamilton, Zurich’s Head of Market Engagement in the UK said, “I’m delighted and honoured to have the chance to build on the work done by the outgoing ‘Insurance Disability and Access Ambassador’ Johnny Timpson and others, where he has created a coalition of the willing. It’s good to know that Johnny remains a force for good in this space.”

“As an industry, we have to be ready to listen, to continue to challenge outdated perceptions, acknowledge progress made in some areas but recognise there is still a long way to go. We need to be seen as transparent, fair and trusted, where our focus is on doing everything we can to best support our customers and employees with disabilities.

“We are likely to see a post pandemic ‘reset’ in so many parts of society and the insurance industry has a big role to play in ‘Building back fairer’. There is a real opportunity to bring even closer together the idea of access to insurance both for potential employees and customers.”

Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, Justin Tomlinson said, “I am very excited to welcome this incredible, impressive group of people as new Disability and Access Ambassadors. They will help support the existing team with our programme to increase access for disabled people across a wide range of private sector industries, and I am really looking forward to working with them.”

The current Ambassadors have been helping industry and the Government in their response to the COVID-19 crisis, and supporting work to develop the National
Disability Strategy.

Zurich was the first UK insurer both to publish its disability pay gap data last December, and to be awarded Disability Confident ‘Leader’ status, through the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) scheme. This is the highest level of accreditation for ongoing work to improve access to its products and services for customers. And for its drive to create a more inclusive and supportive culture for its employees where disability isn’t seen as a barrier to opportunities and progression.

The twelve Disability and Access Ambassador posts include four new sectors which have been added to the existing programme. These additional posts will work with the energy industry, hospitality (pubs and restaurants), private housing and universities.

The new appointments also cover airports, arts and culture, banking, buses, creative industries, rail travel, and the retail sector, whose posts all became vacant at the end of previous Ambassadors’ tenure. They will join colleagues already representing advertising (brand and design), the built environment, countryside and heritage, technology and web design.

Zurich is working to improve the experiences of its customers and employees with disabilities through a series of initiatives including:

• Accessibility and Inclusion Network (AIN) – is now in its 6th year with 120 members. It was set up to promote the inclusion of employees with disabilities and mental health challenges across the UK and to better understand their needs so that we can take practical action to meet these. Recent initiatives include in-depth research amongst disabled employees to find out more about any challenges they face.
• Disability Confident Leader - Zurich is the first in the insurance market and has secured the highest possible accreditation level for the second time. This has involved work to improve access to its products and services and through numerous volunteering programs including mentoring young people with disabilities and work with charities including Leonard Cheshire's Change 100 which works to improve the employment landscape for disabled people.
• The Valuable 500 - In 2019 Zurich was the first insurer to join this movement by committing to put disability on its leadership agenda. Signing up to the pledge is a natural extension of work already underway by Zurich to support its customers and employees with disabilities.
• Our Work Skills programme provides a tailored programme for people who have been unemployed for six months or more. We give the participants a paid, 6-month placement at Zurich with the aim of breaking the unemployment cycle and giving people an opportunity to work within a large organisation. Approximately one third of those taking part have a disability (including autism, vision impairment and mental health issues) and we are pleased to have supported many of these people into permanent employment.
• Signlive is available to our customers who require to communicate with us via British sign language (free of charge) plus Audio / CD / Large Print
• New products are reviewed to identify potential challenges for customers with disabilities. For Zurich’s Life Protection Platform (life insurance), around 40 issues were identified when it was developed that have since been resolved.
• Vulnerable customer network established across Zurich with extensive training completed across 2020 to help our champions support our customers
• Zurich Support Services available to all customers who’ve made a claim which includes access to professional counselling services and round the clock access to a help line on issues ranging from bereavement to managing debt
• Flexible working practices – Zurich empowers its people to work where, when and how they choose to optimise productivity and wellbeing. All new vacancies are now available as part-time or job-share roles (since March 2019).
• All job applicants who declare a disability and meet the minimum criteria re guaranteed an interview for any vacancy.
• Zurich has a reasonable adjustments process in place and provides manager training in disability confidence.
• Inclusive Behaviours Pledge Zurich spearheaded the launch of this industry-wide commitment in 2018, to call out unacceptable behaviour and to create a more inclusive work environment across our sector. Over 120 firms are signed up. Within Zurich we have also rolled out new training and communications entitled ‘Dignity@Work’, to ensure that all employees are clear on their rights and responsibilities regarding inclusion.