Insurance sector sees major progress on family-friendly policies as DEI efforts accelerate 

New data from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) shows the insurance and long-term savings sector is making family-friendly policies a central part of its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) strategy, with significant growth in support for different paths to parenthood. 

The ABI’s latest progress update on its DEI Blueprint shows that 66 per cent of firms now offer surrogacy support and 69 per cent offer IVF support – increases of 13 and 19 percentage points from 2022. The ABI says this shift reflects a growing recognition that supporting employees through key life events is essential to building inclusive cultures. 

Returnship programmes are also becoming more common. Forty-six per cent of firms now offer support to help people back into work after parental or extended leave, up 13 percentage points since 2022. Meanwhile, all ABI members continue to offer formal flexible working options to help employees balance work with caring and family responsibilities. 

The Blueprint update also highlights widening data collection across the sector. Fifty-nine per cent of ABI members now collect socio-economic background data, up from 51 per cent in 2023, while 61 per cent capture data on neurodiversity, compared with 47 per cent in 2022. The ABI says this focus on broader representation is helping firms identify workforce trends and target support more effectively. 

Progress is also visible in workplace culture initiatives. Eighty-nine per cent of ABI members have a speak-up policy for raising concerns about harassment or discrimination, and 76 per cent operate a formal zero-tolerance policy for misconduct. 

Representation at senior levels has also improved, although gaps remain. Women now hold 36 per cent of director-level roles across the sector, up from 31 per cent in 2023. The proportion of directors from ethnic minority backgrounds has risen from 7 per cent to 9 per cent. However, representation at board level has declined, falling from 11 per cent in 2023 to 8 per cent in 2024. 

Engagement with the future workforce is increasing. Firms welcomed 2,622 young people onto structured work experience programmes in 2024, up from just 288 in 2022. 

Liisa Antola, Manager of DEI and Customer Outcomes at the ABI, said: 

“The insurance and long-term savings industry touches millions of lives across the UK, making it vital that our workforce reflects the diverse communities we serve. From better support for working parents to stronger engagement with the incoming workforce, this report shows encouraging progress, and we look forward to building on this further. 

“We are already working closely with members and stakeholders to build on the foundations of our DEI Blueprint and drive lasting change across the industry in 2026 and beyond. Our aim may be bold, but it still stands; we remain committed to becoming the most diverse, equitable and inclusive sector of the UK economy.” 

The 2024–25 update also outlines next steps, including continued improvement to DEI data collection, strengthening inclusive workplace cultures, and driving diversity at all levels of the sector. With the government focused on closing the disability employment gap, the ABI is also exploring how firms can better support disabled people at work. 

The DEI Blueprint was first launched in 2022 to help insurance and long-term savings providers build more inclusive and representative workforces. Download a copy here.