Companies across the London market have been urged to sign up to a new scheme that aims to drive diversity, inclusion, equality and retention in the insurance industry.

EDII, an innovation, education and development company, has partnered with London Works, part of the East London Business Alliance (ELBA), to look to attract those from underrepresented areas into the insurance sector.

The announcement comes one week after the launch of EDII and its Digital Minds programme. Digital Minds brings together insurance market professionals to influence innovation and digital transformation in the London Market. The aim of EDII is to immerse insurance professionals in the latest digital technologies and technique to empower them to become champions for creative change within these markets.

The hope is that participation in the course will lead to job opportunities and career development in the insurance industry. The 12-month programme launches next month and will have at least five delegates joining via the ELBA network.

EDII has established a sponsorship programme where insurance companies will provide financial support to ELBA delegates. Markel International is one of the first sponsors of the initiative.

“EDII’s mission is to open doors to the insurance industry for under-represented talent,” said Caroline Bedford, Chief Executive Officer at EDII. “The ELBA/EDII partnership will give places to students and young people from areas of inequality and low social-mobility. The Digital Minds programme not only provides the opportunity to upskill existing market talent but to increase the diversity of the insurance industry enabling delegates from inside and outside the industry together to learn side by side. We look forward to the fresh perspectives ELBA’s candidates can give the programme – and the insurance market.”

“We are honoured to be partnering with EDII on this programme that supports ELBA’s mission to improve social mobility,” said Carolyn Simmonds, Business Manager at London Works, which is ELBA’s commercial diversity recruitment arm. “The innovation that EDII is championing will help to address the lack of diversity in a lot of firms, but also give opportunity to those who are often overlooked due to unnecessary barriers.”

“Digital Minds is a unique programme bringing together cross-market talent to both learn and execute on innovation and new ideas,” said Hélène Stanway, Market Engagement & Adoption Lead – Data, Future at Lloyd’s. “Diverse perspectives are a cornerstone to developing new ideas and solutions to the insurance market and beyond: Digital Minds creates the forum to do just that.”