About Ecclesiastical
Ecclesiastical is an independent specialist financial services group owned by a charity. It provides specialist insurance, broking, advisory, and investment management products and services to individuals and businesses both directly and through intermediaries.
Ecclesiastical’s specialist products include art & private client insurance, charity insurance, arts & culture insurance, home insurance, Historic Britain insurance, church insurance, education insurance, faith & community insurance, heritage business & leisure insurance, and real estate insurance.
Its broking business comprises specialist brokers, Lycetts insurance brokers, and SEIB insurance brokers which offer insurance to those in the high net worth, equine, farming and rural estates, animal trades, and specialist motor sectors. Ecclesiastical Financial Advisory Services (EFAS) and Lycetts Financial Services provide financial advice to individuals and businesses, including the Church of England clergy.
The company’s EdenTree Investment Management business manages and sells both non-screened and ethically screened investment products to institutional customers and retail customers.
History of Ecclesiastical
In 1887, the Ecclesiastical Buildings Fire Office was established to protect church buildings against fire risks. The founders then decided to protect churches through insurance while using their profit for charity work.
Ecclesiastical offered only fire insurance to churches until 1895. Since then, the company had tapped into various financial products and services such as specialist insurance, broking and advisory, and investment management.
Leadership at Ecclesiastical
Mark Hews – CEO
Hews joined Ecclesiastical’s board in June 2009 then stepped up to the group chief executive position and joined the board of MAPFRE RE in 2013. He also became a trustee of the Windsor Leadership Trust in November 2017.
Hews held several senior roles before becoming Ecclesiastical’s CEO. Previously he was group chief financial officer of Ecclesiastical and also worked as the director of HSBC Life, chief executive of M&S Life, and finance director of Norwich Union Healthcare.
Culture at Ecclesiastical
As a company owned by a charity, Ecclesiastical is committed to helping communities. It grants a significant proportion of its profits to charity and has, over time, increased its total donation to £27.5 million. As a result, Ecclesiastical has been ranked fourth in the Directory of Social Change’s UK Guide to Company Giving.
Ecclesiastical takes care of its people by promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace. It has also retained its Chartered Insurance status in Ireland and the UK, launched a new General Insurance Academy to develop talent, and retained its title as one of the “Top Employers for Young People” in Canada for five years.
Ecclesiastical employees give back to communities through the company’s MyGiving scheme. The programme provides a personal grant of £125, which can be donated to a charity of the employees’ choice. The company then doubles the amount if the employees volunteer with the chosen charity.
Aside from taking care of its employees and various communities, Ecclesiastical tries to lessen its environmental impact through energy use, waste, and business travel. It has developed an environmental management plan for premises managed by the UK facilities team, audits its carbon footprint, and monitors its fleet.
Study highlights that aligning values boosts societal and economic benefits
Top UK performer moves from fourth spot
Theft, damage, and counterfeits prompt collectors to prioritise safeguarding assets
UK general insurance bounces back from previous underwriting loss
Insurer highlights importance of early discussions to manage risks
