Improving Social Well Being
Supporting Community Groups and Charities
Allianz prides itself on its relationship with community groups and charities. It is company policy to consider all applications for support and to provide help where appropriate. This may take the form of a donation or a gift in kind which may include:
- Donation of surplus office furniture or equipment
- Donation of our in-house design and print services
- Use of our office space for meetings
- Donation of the expertise and time of a relevantly qualified employee
- Teams of volunteers
- Items for raffles and auctions
- Donation of unwanted paper and stationery to schools and community groups
In 2007 in the Guildford area we are also sponsors of:
- The Guildford Sports Awards – Community Team Award
- Keep Yourself Self initiative organised by SCC Traffic and Road Safety and Guildford Borough Council
- Firewise Scheme – operated in schools by Surrey Fire and Rescue
- Guildford Book Festival – sponsors of the adult short story competition
- Disability Challengers 6-a-side Football Tournament
- Spectrum Customer Achievement Awards
Funding for these activities is supplemented by the income from the recycling of toner cartridges and mobile telephones (see below).
In 2006 we launched a new fund with the Surrey Community Foundation. The Allianz Fund has been established to benefit communities in Guildford and the surrounding areas. The fund supports projects that build capacity and skills within the community through training and development. Other fund criteria include disadvantaged, older people, drugs and the environment. For more information Click here:
Each year Allianz adopts a national charity and supports staff fundraising with pound for pound matching. In 2007 our chosen charity is Breast Cancer Care. Our aim is to raise over £60,000. For information on our Charity of the Year Scheme, please contact: Vicky Flynn
We operate a GAYE programme for staff which includes a 10% ‘top-up’ from the company for any employee choosing to donate in this way.
Learning and Skills Development
The company is committed to the training and development of its employees. We provide opportunities to help all employees develop skills and knowledge to achieve their full potential and to enable the company to meet its business objectives, customer needs and the compliance requirements of the Financial Services Authority and any other regulatory requirements.
The company provides tools and learning opportunities that will assist employees to plan their training including skills and technical workshops, assessment events, distance learning, coaching and mentoring. Our performance appraisal framework will support development throughout their career. All employees are encouraged to have personal development plans.
Many of the programmes are delivered at our dedicated training centre.
In 2000 Allianz established its own Underwriting Academy which is now seen as the market model for development of underwriters with industry wide recognition. The Academy won the Insurance Times award for training programme of the year in 2001. It has also achieved unique prior learning accreditation by the professional body, the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII).
In 2004 Excellence in Claims was launched to build expertise in the crucial area of claims handling. This represents another significant investment in our people with the aim to be best in class. This has already been recognised by the Chartered Insurance Institute through accreditation against their continuing professional development scheme.
Allianz is committed to having professionally qualified staff. Considerable support is provided to the individual to achieve this including study time, workshops, payment of subscriptions and exam fees and cash awards for success.
Investors in People (IiP) have accredited the whole company since 1999. Accreditation by IiP gives Allianz a nationally recognised best practice framework for the training and development of staff and the company is committed to remaining accredited.
Promoting Work-Life balance
Allianz actively encourages employees to manage their time effectively with emphasis on the advantages that this brings, including achieving a good balance between work, rest and play.
The company provides subsidised membership of the Guildford Spectrum and has active Sports & Social clubs.
Staff Volunteering
We operate a ‘Helping Hands’ scheme as part of our Community Investment Programme. This scheme marries teams of employees with local charities and community groups in need of help.
Mentoring students and businesses
- For the last three years we have sponsored Surrey Young Enterprise
- We regularly support work experience for students from local schools and colleges.
- We are a member of the Employers Forum at Godalming College .
- We provide business and organisational support to Waverley Age Concern and facilitate an annual planning meeting for the charity at our training facilities.
- Our Design Centre supports the development of selected students from SIAD (Surrey Institute of Art and Design) in Farnham.
- As members of the Chartered Insurance Institute our employees help promote the insurance industry to schools and businesses.
Supporting staff/customers with disabilities
Allianz is an equal opportunities employer and all premises cater for wheel-chair and disabled access.
The Disability Discrimination Act applies to Allianz . All staff are aware that it is unlawful to discriminate against disabled people and are familiar with the policies and practices adopted by Allianz to ensure compliance with the law.
Health and Safety
Allianz is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace for all our employees and a safe and healthy environment for the public.
- All staff are actively encouraged to assess and reduce the risks they face at work by undertaking annual team risk assessments.
- Allianz has a fleet of over 1,000 company vehicles, so regular services are necessary to ensure optimum performance and to make sure that the levels of harmful emissions associated with motor vehicles are kept at a minimum. (See ‘Motorvate Awards’ below)
- Employees who drive regularly on company business are sent on Drive and Survive advanced driving safety programmes.
- All building plant, including the heating and ventilation systems is monitored regularly by a specialist company that reports on any harmful contaminants in the office or outside air.
- The water used in our offices drinks machines is also carefully checked to ensure there are no harmful bacteria present and water temperatures are within guidelines.
- Every six months our head office holds blood-donor sessions which staff are encouraged to take part in.
- We offer BUPA Well-Women and Well-Men health-checks free of charge to all employees over 50.