About Covea Insurance

Within the UK they operate as Covéa Insurance offering commercial, motor, high net worth, property and protection insurance. They also offer life and critical illness products through Covéa Life and administration services are provided to many high street brands through Sterling Client Services Ltd. Together, they’re part of the French mutual insurance group Covéa and as a result of its financial strength, the Covéa group has attained a standard and 'Poor’s ‘A+ Stable’ rating.

Covéa Insurance, formed in October 2012 followed the integration of MMA Insurance, Provident Insurance and Gateway. They acquired Sterling Insurance in 2016 and now have over 1800 colleagues, who demonstrate passion and commitment on a daily basis to build a truly great, multi-award winning organisation who provide a world class service to their customers.

In 2017 they launched their purpose, to protect people against the worst happening and put things right when it does.' In order to deliver this, they have created a vibrant, inclusive environment where talent thrives. Reinforcing their powerful over-arching purpose, they've created their employer brand ‘real people, real purpose'. Their ‘real people' have shared their ‘real stories' internally and externally as a powerful way of acknowledging and celebrating the diversity that makes up their Covea family. Their values are firmly embedded within the organisation and they are all measured not just on ‘what' they deliver but 'how' they do it. Their values are at the core of their communication channels, from their performance review process where employees rate themselves against the values they demonstrate, through to their annual Covéa Excel Awards where each award represents their values and recognises individuals who live these in everything they do.

What is it like to work for Covea Insurance

My Manager

83% of staff agreed:

I feel that my manager talks openly and honestly with me

Their development programmes play a key part in developing their managers. The Inspire programme in particular, focuses on a number of tools to help support managers to stretch, and be the best they can in their roles. When the organisation went through the most recent integration, managers attended change management workshops, to guide them through the key elements needed to support people effectively through the changes ahead. The organisation invests a huge amount of time and money into creating and supporting a coaching culture, giving individuals the chance to talk to a qualified business coach, to help them to overcome the daily challenges that come with managing people and projects. This investment has seen their managers grow in confidence over the last couple of years. Their senior leadership team attend the same workshops and receive coaching so that they too can continue to develop their skills and also become advocates of some of the tools that are introduced. More recently they have introduced 360 degree feedback. This has been implemented with careful consideration and supported with training workshops to support skillful giving and receiving of feedback. This ensures that the feedback experience is enriching and balanced in the way in which it's presented and accepted by the participants.

83% of staff agreed:

I feel that my manager talks openly and honestly with me

Wellbeing

71% of staff agreed:

I am happy with the balance between my work and home life

They have a Wellbeing Group which has representation from all locations and business areas. The group deliver many initiatives to enhance wellbeing including fruit drops, massages, regular yoga sessions and scary movies for Halloween. The group also keep everyone cool in the summer by arranging for ice cream vans to visit their offices and deliver free ice creams for everyone. They regularly use bios from their people, to showcase how they use their Covea Rewards to enjoy discounted leisure time with friends and family. Their benefits platform was relaunched this year with a brand new look and feel. They have also recently trained mental health first aiders across all of their locations to support people who need someone to talk to in times of crisis. They recently invited Luke Ambler in from the charity 'Andys man club' to deliver resilience workshops for their employees to help them to develop the skills needed to enhance their own wellbeing.

71% of staff agreed:

I am happy with the balance between my work and home life

Giving Something Back

95% of staff agreed:

My organisation encourages charitable activities

Every year, they invite their employees to ‘grow green’. They provide them with the soil and pots to grow their own plants for their desks. This initiative encourages people to think about their environment and is great for wellbeing too. Teams have also opted into removing their bins (therefore also removing the temptation to drop in recyclable waste!) and instead committed to recycle all waste possible in the recycling bins provided in their communal areas.

95% of staff agreed:

My organisation encourages charitable activities

Learn more about the 8 factors of workplace engagement here

Benefits:

Gym

Companies offering either free gym/ sports facilities or subsidised gym membership for all employees
Pensions

Companies offering a final salary scheme to all employees, or one in which the employer's contribution is at least 5%
Maternity

At least 10 weeks’ full pay or generous alternative
Development

Companies that provide support for non-work related training to all staff
Family Friendly

School hours contracts offered to all staff