Lockyers has been shortlisted for BCA’s Diversity and Inclusion Award

Who it’s for
This significant accolade is open to those who can demonstrate a commitment to developing opportunities for professional advancement across a diverse workforce and universally promoting equality. It commends those who celebrate and encourage diversity in all its forms and who make steps towards removing any professional barriers for entry to the insurance industry.

Why it matters
As well as diverse and inclusive teams typically performing more effectively due to a wider range of ideas and perspectives, by creating a culture of diversity, businesses will be able to create a stronger culture to better serve clients, shareholders and their communities as a whole. Across many industries, insurance included, there have been leaps and bounds in the adoption and progression of diversity in the workplace over the years, but there’s still a lot of work to do. Without awareness that there continues to be an issue across many businesses, this could continue to go unchanged for years to come.

What makes Lockyers different?
When it comes to recruitment, Lockyers take the approach of always finding the right person for the job, irrespective of age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, race or religion. By also working with likeminded recruiters, this mindset means they can search the widest pool of talent and experience while recruiting.

Within their local community, Lockyers supports the ‘Friends of Dorothy’ charity, committed to combating isolation and loneliness among older gay people and promoting intergenerational communication within the gay community. In addition to being a sponsor of their Ruby Slipper Ball in 2018 and 2019, they have supported countless ‘Pride’ events over the years and take part in fundraising activities to raise funds for those in less fortunate positions.

Their approach to embracing diversity has also yielded business success. Despite recent challenges presented by COVID-19, in June 2020 they made their highest ever broker earnings in 1 month in the history of Lockyers; January, June, July, August and September 2020 were the highest broker earnings ever for comparable months.  In 2016, they were the first broker to be awarded both the Independent Broker and Commercial Lines Broker in the same year by the Insurance Times and in 2018, they won the Broker Network award for Commercial Broker of the Year.

Managing Director of Lockyers, Martin Weaver Parker, commented:

“People make the difference…and everyone is different. I love the team I have round me at Lockyers. If everyone was the same, then life would be boring."

“Celebrating diversity and promoting inclusion are very close to my heart. Lockyers recognise that treating all colleagues with respect and dignity, encouraging people to “be yourself” creates a happier, stronger team with a greater engagement with the business."

“We value the diversity of our people, our clients and understand that every business is different. The diverse group of individuals at Lockyers work together as a great team to keep driving growth and delivering first-rate, personal customer service. Everyone’s contribution to the team is appreciated by both the company and our clients who know we will always go the extra mile for them.”