​Aviva rolls out epilepsy awareness training ahead of National Epilepsy Week

Aviva has partnered with charity Epilepsy Action to deliver epilepsy awareness training to staff as part of efforts to create a more inclusive workplace for employees living with the condition.

Around 40 colleagues at the company have completed the training programme, which aims to improve understanding of epilepsy and equip employees with practical knowledge on how to respond to seizures and support affected colleagues.

The initiative comes ahead of National Epilepsy Week 2026 and follows growing attention across the insurance sector on employee wellbeing, inclusion and workplace accessibility.

Erika Spall, a project manager at Aviva who has lived with epilepsy for around seven years, said the training had helped create a more supportive environment for staff with the condition.

Spall, who was diagnosed while at university after experiencing multiple daily seizures, said epilepsy had significantly affected her memory and communication in the workplace.

She explained that she had developed coping strategies over time and had become more open with colleagues about the condition.

“I’ve put extra reminders in place for things and I’m very open with my colleagues,” she said.

“Since my initial diagnosis I’ve been learning to adapt to my epilepsy to help me thrive as it’s something I will live with for my whole life.”

Workplace inclusion

Spall said that Aviva colleagues had been supportive after she experienced her first seizure in five years while attempting to reduce her medication.

She also recently shared her experiences in an internal article at Aviva, prompting around 15 colleagues to disclose they too were living with epilepsy.

Spall said: “Even as someone living with epilepsy, I learnt new insights on the training. Things like the urgency to call an ambulance if a person is having a seizure lasting longer than five minutes, something which is now invaluable knowledge to me. It really is life changing.”

According to Epilepsy Action, 60% of people with epilepsy say they have experienced discrimination at work, while 42% of employers surveyed said they would avoid hiring someone with epilepsy to avoid potential workplace challenges. The charity state that almost 1 in 100 people in the UK live with epilepsy.

Simon Privett, training and education lead at Epilepsy Action, said Aviva was “leading by example” by investing in awareness training and encouraging employees to volunteer for the programme.

He added that trained colleagues would help ensure employees with epilepsy had access to “a calm, knowledgeable colleague to turn to” within the workplace.