TRAVEL insurance COMPANY Allianz Global Assistance achieves its highest result in the Giving Something Back category (a 77% positive score for a top-20 ranking), with staff impressed by its strong social conscience (80%). The Croydon-based company genuinely cares about the environment (81%), with its team of green champions ensuring that the 702 employees are aware of how much energy they are using and the amount of waste they are generating at work. The organisation has a corporate social responsibility programme called Allianz4Good which encourages its workforce to get involved in the local community. Employees have helped young people find work by providing CV and interview clinics, and passed on tips to silver surfers at internet workshops organised by Age UK. Staff have also taken part in the London-to-Brighton bike ride to raise funds for charity, and the call centre has been used to support BBC Children in Need and Comic Relief. Formed in 1980, Allianz Global Assistance is the UK branch of its German parent and generates sales of more than £100m. The rebranding of the company from Mondial Assistance in 2012 has seen a year-long project to engage people in the change and what it means. This included an exhibition where different departments demonstrated the various projects they are working on and the challenges they face. Employees believe that they can make a valuable contribution to the organisation's success (81%) and that their colleagues go out of their way to help them (78%). Staff are encouraged to suggest ideas, and each part of the business has an innovation champion who decides which proposals are relevant to their department and who needs to be involved to implement them. The management team rewards people whose ideas have the biggest impact on the business. The organisation's partnership with Saracens Rugby Club provides opportunities to reward staff. After a gathering in the players' lounge at the club's Allianz Park stadium in Hendon, north London, the market management department enjoyed a tour of the ground and an afternoon game of tag rugby. www.allianz-assistance.co.uk
