Insurance Corporation of the Channel Islands achieves Community Champion accreditation
Insurance Corporation is the first general insurer in the Channel Islands to be awarded the Community Champion Accreditation by Guernsey’s Environmental & Social Impact Monitor.
ESI Monitor is a non-profit organisation, which carries out independent assessments of the environmental and social measures taken by companies. Its aim is to reward those businesses that contribute most to the community they operate in and encourage other businesses to attain higher standards. Before achieving accreditation, businesses must show a commitment to supporting local charities and community initiatives, something that has been key to Insurance Corporation’s ethos for nearly 40 years.
‘At Insurance Corporation we see our work in the community as more than just corporate social responsibility,’ Michelle Steele, HR and PR Executive at Insurance Corporation, said. ‘All our staff within Insurance Corporation are residents of the Channel Islands, making us part of the social fabric of the community with a vested interest in seeing it prosper. That’s why, despite its relative footprint and size, Insurance Corporation contributes extensively to community initiatives.’
Despite the impact of Covid presenting many obstacles, Insurance Corporation is proud of how the team came together to volunteer more than 230 hours supporting local charities in Guernsey and Jersey so far this year. Nearly £5,000 of Covid support grants have been provided to local charities close to Insurance Corporation’s heart this year that had been particularly affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. And the same amount was given in kind donations to local charities through sponsorship.
Mrs Steele added: ‘One of the many ways in which Insurance Corporation gives back is by supporting the important environmental conservation work taking place throughout the islands, via our annual Conservation Awards. This year’s awards saw more than £11,000 in prize money awarded to local schools, eco clubs or community groups that were making a conscious effort to improve the environments we live in.’
Providing public liability and relevant equipment cover at the recent Rocquaine Regatta was just another example of this community engagement. This year will also see the 30th anniversary of the annual Insurance Corporation Health and Social Care Bursary in the Autumn, which invites Health & Social Care staff to submit ideas to improve the health or social care provision in the Bailiwick of Guernsey. Insurance Corporation grants the winners with £2,500 to bring their idea to fruition, and the runners-up are given £1,000.
Insurance Corporation managing director Mark Marshall added: ‘In recognition of the significant contribution we continue to make year on year to our local communities, we are delighted to announce we are the first insurer in the Channel Islands to be awarded the Environmental & Social Impact Monitor (ESIM) Community Champion accreditation.’
Founder of ESI Monitor Marc Laine said: "We are delighted that Insurance Corporation in the Channel Islands has entered and gained the award. By submitting data on their significant commitment supporting the island communities to ESI Monitor, we are able to provide benchmarking data to the company on how they compare with some of the best companies in the Channel Islands for supporting the community. It is important for companies to be able to see independent contextual data on their commitments and perhaps more importantly give preference to suppliers demonstrating similarly high standards."