Chaucer shortlisted for Progressive D&I Recruitment Award

Chaucer has been shortlisted in the Progressive D&I Recruitment Award category at the upcoming Diversity & Inclusion in Insurance Awards from Insurance Post, recognising our commitment to creating fair, accessible pathways into the insurance industry and attracting talent from the widest range of backgrounds possible.

At Chaucer, we believe that building a truly diverse workforce starts with widening access to opportunity. That's why we have embedded inclusive practices throughout our recruitment strategy, from the way we attract and assess candidates to the support we provide once they join the business.

Through partnerships with organisations including SEO London, Blackbullion, iCAN, LINK, the East London Business Alliance (ELBA), Careers Returners, and the London Market Group we actively engage with candidates from underrepresented and lower-income backgrounds. These partnerships are complemented by our own internships, graduate opportunities, apprenticeships and insight programmes, helping to create meaningful pathways into the industry.

Over the last six years alone, Chaucer has welcomed 20 SEO London students through internship and graduate opportunities, with SEO London alumni continuing their careers at Chaucer today. During 2026, we delivered three dedicated Insight Weeks for students, offering valuable insight into different areas of the business and raising awareness of career pathways within insurance. Reflecting our commitment to widening access, 85% of participants were students who would not typically have access to opportunities in the City of London, let alone the insurance industry.

Embedding inclusion throughout recruitment

Creating diverse candidate pipelines is only one part of the process. We have implemented a range of measures designed to ensure recruitment remains inclusive, transparent and fair at every stage.

These include:

• Reviewing job descriptions to remove gender-coded language and improve accessibility.
• Requiring diverse shortlists for vacancies.
• Setting ambitious representation targets Publishing our representation ambitions.
• Ensuring hiring managers complete inclusive hiring training to help recognise and mitigate unconscious bias.
• Working exclusively with recruitment partners who demonstrate a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion.

This approach helps ensure we attract exceptional talent while creating a consistent and inclusive experience for every candidate.

Delivering measurable results

Our commitment to inclusive recruitment has translated into tangible outcomes across the business.

Since 2023:

• Our direct hiring rate has increased from 31.4% to 96%.
• Female representation within senior-level hiring activity has increased from 31.4% to 44%.
• We have reached gender parity at C-Suite Level
• We have exceeded Lloyd's 1 in 3 hiring ambition for ethnic minorities
• Our disclosure rates across all diversity dimensions have increased by at least 20%

These improvements provide greater transparency, stronger insight into our recruitment practices and evidence that our efforts to broaden access are having a meaningful impact.

Creating opportunities beyond recruitment

At Chaucer, our focus extends beyond attracting diverse talent. We are equally committed to ensuring colleagues develop, progress and thrive.

Through employee resource groups, inclusive policies and initiatives that support a culture of belonging, we strive to create an environment where everyone feels valued, supported and empowered to reach their full potential.

This nomination reflects the dedication of colleagues across the business who continue to champion inclusion, diverse perspectives and help make the insurance industry more accessible to future generations of talent.