INDUSTRIAL & COMMERCIAL 2012
To Advertise 71 886759(NI) or 048 71 886759 (From ROI)
The Herald April 2012 Page 51
Allstate Strabane Part of the Community & Karting, with a trip to the Irish Open planned in July. Employees can also get involved in clubs such as the Book Club, Film Club & Golf Society. The committee is also responsible for organising the annual Christmas and Summer parties as well as surprise treats throughout the year such as Valentines Coffee & Cookies, Easter Eggs & the Ice-cream Van visit in the summer.
Allstate Northern Ireland Allstate Northern Ireland is one of the largest employers in Strabane, currently employing almost 400 people at the Orchard Road site. Allstate NI is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Allstate Corporation, the largest publicly owned personal lines insurer in the US, providing insurance to almost 16 million households. Silver Status that the company had previously received in 2010. Bro McFerran, Managing Director at Allstate Northern Ireland commented “As a major employer in Northern Ireland, we understand the importance of health and wellbeing for our employees in helping us to retain and recruit the best talent to our organization. We have a saying at Allstate that it’s not just a job it’s a way of life, we And the award goes to….. want to make it easy for our employees to have a good work life balance that revolves around their family or leisure activities.” Allstate NI’s health and wellbeing strategy Stephen Farry, Minister for Employment and Learning takes into presenting the IiP, Health and Wellbeing Award to Deirdre consideration 4 Doherty and Melissa Whyte from Allstate NI. key areas: Your Money, Your Community, Your In October 2011 Allstate Strabane Health and Your Benefits. This was named ‘Employer of the is in addition to the competitive Year’ at the prestigious Strabane benefits package that the company Business Awards. Allstate was provides employees including described as ‘….the business that Dental, Eye Care, Contributory gym proved a genuine dedication to the membership, Flu Vaccination, Eye development and welfare of their care, lucrative bonus schemes not workforce.’ The award was a great accolade for the Strabane site and a to mention an extensive range of flexible working options. 2012 will direct result of consistent focus on also see the launch of a key strategy our people strategies: Training and Development; Employee health and to drive working from home as a viable option to employees, working wellbeing, Employee engagement, more unsociable shifts with the aim reward and recognition. of improving their work-life balance. The celebrations continued in 2012 It is anticipated that 20% of the when the Strabane site received Strabane workforce will be working the Investors in People Health from home by end of 2012. & Wellbeing Award, this was in addition to the Investors in People Allstate NI has locations in Belfast, Derry and Strabane, employing approx. 1,900 people in Northern Ireland. The Strabane office provides a range of business support services such as technical support, software testing and insurance policy processing, 24/7, 365 days a year, providing a first class customer service.
‘’Since the beginning of our relationship (2003) I have had the pleasure of working with many wonderful individuals in Ireland. I always comment to everyone I talk to about your lovely place in the world, that I have never felt homesick, out of place or uncomfortable. The business conducted in Strabane is a pure reflection of the people. I may certainly be bias and personally I have no problem with that….. But I truly believe there is no better place in the world for Allstate (and others) to conduct business and work with the people of Allstate Northern Ireland.’’ comment from David Waid (Allstate US).
Our People… We continue to emphasise training, development and progression. In the last 24 months, 100 employees have been promoted to higher level roles. We launched two new development programmes to employees; an entry level IT programme which provides extensive reskilling for Strabane staff to retrain in IT software development. A fast-track team manager programme has also been implemented for aspiring managers and leaders for the future.
It’s not all work… The Sports & Social Committee ensures that there are a wide variety of activities to suit all interests, including recent activities such as a cinema trip, kayaking, fishing trip, Grease at the Millennium Forum
Through the organisation School Employer Connections, students from various schools in the area visit the Strabane office to do work experience. One of the participating students from Holy Cross College, commented “I enjoyed the experience of visiting Allstate, staff were very friendly and made me feel welcomed. This was helpful as I was very Allstate supporting our nervous about going. I would highly community recommend to Being one of the other students largest employers that have an in Strabane, interest in ICT to brings great visit Allstate as it responsibility, is an invaluable not only to our opportunity employees, but and allows you to their families to experience and community. working life in a The Charities large company Committee runs with advanced many events technology and on an on-going confirmed my basis. Recently Allstate Strabane Rides High in career choice in an Indoor Charity Charity Cycle-A-Thon. ICT”. Cycle was held, the challenge for those involved was to cover the distance of all three Allstate Northern Ireland sites - Orchard Road, Strabane to Northland, Northland to Lanyon Place, Belfast - a combined total of 92 miles. The 18 strong team made up of staff members covered 152 miles, exceeding our goal of Students from Holy Cross College on92 miles, lasting 7 hours 24 mins site in Allstate NI for work experience. in total. Those involved were sponsored by employees, with all donations in aid of the Strabane Community Project, towards the running costs of a new van to provide a subsidised meals on wheels service to the elderly in the community. The Charities Committee also held a Charity Bake Sale and Book Sale which raised funds for organisations such as Cystic Fibrosis Trust, Knockavoe School, Allstate Strabane was at the forefront of Duchenne Muscular supporting those affected by Hurricane Dystrophy Research, Irene in August 2011. 21 Allstate staff Strabane Special Olympics pledged their time to take telephone calls Committee, Sion Swifts from Allstate customers impacted by the Ladies Football Club, Melanoma Cancer & Breast weather phenomenon. The dangerous and powerful Hurricane Irene posed an extreme Cancer Awareness. The threat to homes and businesses from North Charities Committee also Carolina and Mid-Atlantic to the Northeast supports St. Vincent de and New England. Paul on an annual basis with their Toys for Tots and Martina McNulty was the first Allstater Hamper Appeals. to take a call from a New Yorker with a damaged roof. Martina commented: ‘It is a new experience and you can only feel empathy for those who are losing their home in such circumstances, we are only glad to help.’
Allstate Strabane Kayaking Group show they’re not afraid to get their hair wet!
www.allstate.com/northernireland
School Employer Connections
Hurricane Irene ‘Blown Away’ by Allstate Strabane
With winds of up to 80mph, power was lost in almost 2 million homes on the American East Coast, with the major New York airports closed over the weekend. The Orchard Road site continued to support this effort during the aftermath as the US started its clean up operation.