REVIEW
PROTECTION
Do we need to talk about diversity? Kevin Carr chief executive, protection review, and MD, Carr Consulting & Communications
D
iversity and inclusion were key topics at a recent online event for the protection sector. Mark Twigg, executive director at Cicero, was the last of seven speakers, each with seven minutes to speak at Protection Review’s second ‘ProtectX’ event last month. He started off by saying: “You may be forgiven for wondering why a middle-class white man has been given this platform to talk about the importance of diversity and inclusion in Britain’s insurance industry.” He added that some might argue white men have been on the stage for too long already, and that it’s time to let others have their say. “I would disagree,” he said. “For a start, appearances can be deceptive. How someone looks isn’t always a good guide to their diversity of experience, or their diversity of thought. Or how they solve problems.” Speaking from personal experience as someone who grew up in a poor,
working class area and as a gay person, Mark explained how he was faced with homophobia and often felt marginalised and excluded. He said the insurance industry he began working in 20 years ago was neither inclusive nor forwardlooking. “The management team then were mostly men, all of their faces were white; they all spoke with soft, southern English accents, were of a certain age and married with children. And senior management didn’t see this as a problem.” Opening the event, KPMG insurance director Rose St Louis told how she had to scroll through four pages of a Google search for life insurance until she found a person of colour, and was unable to find any from a same-sex couple, or anyone with a disability. Rose explained how ‘affinity bias’ still exists within the protection industry, and that “we migrate towards people who look like us, sound like us and think like us.” “What are we saying to these people?” she asked. “I think we really need to think about that, and we really need to work harder. “We need to make sure that all customers know that we understand
How someone looks isn’t always a guide to their diversity of experience, or their diversity of thought
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MORTGAGE INTRODUCER NOVEMBER 2020
NEWS IN BRIEF Legal & General has launched two new income protection products. ‘Low Start’ and ‘Executive’ cover have been launched to help advisers reach a wider range of clients with additional benefits and choice. AIG Life has moved to simplify critical illness insurance by introducing four broad and comprehensive headings rather than a list of specific conditions. Digital solutions provider iPipeline has partnered with CIExpert to support advisers comparing critical illness plans through its range of technology. HSBC Life has announced that policyholders will receive additional physical and mental health benefits as standard on new policies. It is provided by Square Health, which has integrated with the OPAL IS Pandora digital protection platform used by HSBC. The Protection Review Conference and Awards takes place on the morning of Wednesday 9 December.
their needs, that we are there for them and that we can provide for them.” Rose argued that firms wanting to make great products and grow markets need to hold a mirror up to themselves, to see the diversity of their current and potential customer base reflected right back at them in the people that work with them. “Diversity and inclusion policies alone won’t help in the challenge of normalising diversity and inclusion,” she said. “It starts with us, it starts with human beings, it starts with kindness, it starts with thoughtfulness – people being ready to ally, people being ready to see past difference and looking through it to talent. “How can you play your part? Every single one of us has a privilege and a platform, so my ask is that you use your privilege and platform to not only serve yourself, but also serve others who neither look like you, think like you nor love like you.” M I www.mortgageintroducer.com