Joanne Hastings, head of customer, assurance and capability at Aviva, discusses the firm’s entry for the Excellence in Professional Development – Broker/Insurer/MGA award

1. Why did you put yourselves forward for the Excellence in Professional Development – Broker/Insurer/MGA category?

We entered the Excellence in Professional Development category to showcase our outstanding achievements through the Commercial Lines Academy (CLA).

Joanne Hastings, head of customer, assurance & capability at Aviva

Joanne Hastings, head of customer, assurance & capability at Aviva

Since its inception in 2018, the CLA has delivered transformative results to support the business, including delivering a substantial amount of tailored training and working to deliver bespoke programmes that have supported a 135% rise in technical underwriting licences.

Our innovative training programmes have significantly enhanced our team’s capabilities, leading to exceptional customer service ensuring we are both responsive and efficient. These achievements demonstrate our commitment to professional development and a leading role in the industry.

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

Our entry stands out due to the breadth and depth of our training programmes, which support our employees from initiation through their entire careers.

The Commercial Lines Academy (CLA) offers a comprehensive range of initiatives, including centralised training programmes, the initiation for new entrants and apprenticeship programmes along with comprehensive and bespoke technical and soft skill programmes.

In 2023, we delivered a staggering 46,000 training hours, leading to significant underwriting licence progression and 89 promotions.

Ensuring that more of our underwriters are better equipped to provide excellent customer outcomes, making us a leader in professional development.

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

Winning this award would be a significant validation of our commitment to professional development and the success of our Commercial Lines Academy.

It would highlight our dedication to fostering a knowledgeable and adaptable workforce, which directly enhances our service delivery and customer outcomes. 

Winning this award will recognise a true team effort, showing how our people are supported and value their continuous development.

Winning this award reinforces Aviva’s reputation as a great place to build a career in insurance and the positive role that ongoing professional development can play in attracting top talent and strengthening our competitive edge in the market.

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