Insurance Times Awards 2026: SSP on how DEI improvements have benefitted the wider business

Why did you put yourselves forward for the category?

The last year has seen massive advances in our diversity, equality, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) journey, it’s now a deeply embedded part of SSP UK&I. Following an independent DEIB maturity assessment we recognised the impact that creating a more connected, inclusive, culturally aware workforce could have across our people.

Over just 12 months we have succeeded in embedding employee-led forums, cultural celebrations and well-being initiatives into everyday business life. Our employees now view DEIB as second-nature. The fact that our employee engagement has risen and attrition fallen is testament to that. We’re delighted that we’ve made this progress in such a brief time period.

What do you think makes your entry stand out and why should you win the award?

DEIB is an ongoing commitment for everybody at SSP UK&I, not a project with an end-date. Our journey to global standard DEIB maturity has focused on employee engagement. Employee forums champion belonging and cultural awareness through initiatives including International Women’s Day and well-being challenges like volunteering.

These in-person events, along with digital platforms, enable us to create engagement across the business bringing together cultures, forming community and fostering belonging. Crucially this impact continues to be measured as our business grows, demonstrating that inclusion is delivering tangible benefits for our people and for SSP UK&I as the organisation our employees now feel they belong to.

What would winning this award mean to you and your firm?

The work undertaken by everyone across our workforce is making a genuine difference to how we all connect, contribute to our organisation and feel valued. Winning would give us the opportunity to share what we’ve learnt with the wider Vencora Group and the insurance sector as a whole.

Importantly it would reinforce our ongoing commitment to keep listening and learning as the DEIB landscape continues to evolve.