Zurich Insurance has made further commitments to supporting neurodiversity in the industry and become the Group for Autism, Insurance, Investment & Neurodiversity’s (GAIN) first industry transformer member.
Over the next three years, Zurich has committed to working with GAIN in its mission to spark a significant improvement in the employment prospects of neurodivergent people in insurance, investment and related areas of financial services.
Working with the body and other businesses in the sector, the insurer said it will play a lead role in creating a sector-wide transformation of the employment prospects of neurodivergent individuals by championing and creating opportunities for these individuals.
The body said Zurich would seek to bring neurodiversity into the same focus as other forms of diversity and inclusion. It added that raising the profile of neurodiversity was an important element in achieving environmental, social and governance (ESG), corporate social responsibility (CSR) and broader diversity objectives.
Barbara Schonhofer, co-chair of GAIN, said: “There has never been a better time to be more informed about neurodiversity and the huge value to business of recognising and welcoming different ways of thinking and operating.
“By embracing difference, we better reflect customers and the broader society we serve. We applaud Zurich for becoming our first industry transformer and look forward to welcoming others as they join us to make a radical improvement in the employment prospects of neurodivergent people.”
Tim Bailey, CEO of Zurich, added: “We’re proud to be a founder member of GAIN. We know that our neurodivergent colleagues within Zurich bring a strong and differentiated skillset.
“We also know there is more that Zurich and the wider industry can do to make the world of work more accessible to all. Working with GAIN enables us to bring together insights from real life experiences alongside a wide range of resources we look forward to drawing on.”