Link’s Mission

is to make the insurance industry the employer of choice for the LGBTQ+ community.

We will do this by;

Supporting the attraction and development of LGBTQ+ talent into, and within, the insurance industry
Engaging and collaborating with market participants, the LGBTQ+ community and diversity networks to drive inclusion and acceptance within the workplace
Working cross-industry to support and champion new and innovative products and services for LGBTQ+ customers

Join link

To get involved or just keep in touch with LGBTQ+ inclusion in the insurance industry sign-up to our mailing list today by filling out the form below.
You can also follow us on social media.

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Link’s Achievements

Industry Engagement

Link engages with insurers, reinsurers, brokers and industry bodies to support firms and the market to become more attractive for LGBTQ+ talent. Link has supported the establishment of several new LGBTQ+ employee resource groups in the insurance sector and will always offer support and guidance to other firms looking to do the same. Link has been integral to many market initiatives and supports DiveIn – the annual Insurance Diversity & Inclusion Festival, organised by Inclusion@Lloyd’s.

We at Link realise the importance of promoting the insurance industry more widely, and the work that we and others are undertaking to improve D&I. We have raised the profile of LGBTQ+ talent through media coverage in Insurance Day, Post Magazine, Intelligent Insurer, Insurance Insider and other trade press. Our members and committee regularly attend and speak on industry panels about LGBTQ+ topics and wider diversity issues.

Partnering

Member & Community Engagement

We host monthly networking events, and keystone summer and winter events, on top of a varied social and educational calendar throughout the year.

We look to cover all aspects of the LGBTQ+ diversity spectrum and are able to bring high profile industry figures and external speakers to the table. At Link, we recognise the importance of giving back and supporting LGBTQ+ charitable causes. We have partnered over the years with many LGBTQ+ charities and this continues to be a core aspect of our DNA.

We publish a monthly newsletter, in which we share not only events and news from Link, but also across the market and its constituent firms.

Awards

Link was honoured to receive the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to local volunteer groups across the UK to recognise outstanding work done in their own communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate the anniversary of The Queen’s coronation. It is the MBE for volunteer groups. This award is a testament to the years of hard work put in by every single person who has volunteered to support Link: from all those who have been committee members, to those who have supported our events. Whether you have given your valuable time to speak or welcome and register attendees as they enter, we couldn’t do what we do without you. Thank you!

History

Link was formed in summer 2012 with the establishment of a Steering Committee. This was followed by a formal launch of the network in March 2013 with an event at the Chartered Insurance Institute.

Since its launch, Link has gone from strength to strength. Link has run many fantastic events and collaborated with a huge number of firms across the industry. Link’s work was formally recognised in 2019 with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK.

Link has supported the establishment of numerous LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Groups in the insurance sector and has supported the industry on its journey towards making insurance a more attractive sector for all talent, not just LGBTQ+ talent.

Testimonials

We are delighted to have received testimonials and impact statements from some of our members.
Here are a few examples.

After working within the industry for 28 years, the Link Insurance Network has been a revelation. In an age where diversity is perceived to be given, Link Up North has given me a fresh focus and pride in who I am, enabling me to bring my whole-self to my workplace. The north, especially Leeds, is such an important hub for insurance, second only to London. This is reflected by the strong support for Link Up North and its passionate leadership team. The quality of the presentations and speakers is exemplary and has lead me to challenge my own views. A definite must.

Link member AIG

Link events have provided me with unique networking opportunities where I have absolute confidence in sharing details of my personal life outside of work. This has allowed me to practice networking techniques in a safe environment which in turn, has increased my confidence at other (non-LGBTQ+ focussed) networking events.

I made a conscious decision to be ‘out’ at work from day one but at the time, there were no visible LGBTQ+ role models in my company so I still felt uncomfortable talking about my sexuality and the challenges faced by the wider LGBTQ+ community. Link has provided me with role models who have done a fantastic job of raising LGBTQ+ awareness, not only in their own companies but also in the wider insurance market.

Link members have inspired me to raise LGBTQ+ awareness in my own company where I believe I am now a visible LGBTQ+ role model. By representing my company at D&I events and then sharing my experiences on our intranet, I have been contacted by colleagues from across the business who identify as LGBTQ+(or allies) and who either want to be involved with future events or just appreciate having an informal internal network of colleagues for support and advice

Link memberHiscox

Having recently left school to begin my career in insurance, I was anxious about telling my colleagues I was gay and wondered whether there would be anybody else like me in the office. During my first week, my manager (a Link member) mentioned his boyfriend in a conversation we were having amongst the team and this made me realise that it was ok for me to be open and honest with my colleagues about my sexuality.

My manager told me about the Link network and I have since attended one of their monthly networking events. It was great to find out that there were so many people who identify as LGBTQ+ working in the insurance sector and it’s really helped me to quickly build up a network of people I can go to for support and advice. I was pleasantly surprised by how well established the network was and will definitely be taking part in future events.

Link memberHiscox

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Join link

To get involved or just keep in touch with LGBTQ+ inclusion in the insurance industry sign-up to our mailing list today by filling out the form below.
You can also follow us on social media.

previous newsletters