Marsh McLennan has announced that it has become the first organisation in the UK to receive the “Autism Confidence” accreditation from the charity Ambitious about Autism (AaA).
This recognition comes after a comprehensive three-year initiative aimed at enhancing inclusivity in recruitment, HR policies, employee engagement, education, and the workplace environment to better accommodate neurodiverse staff.
In 2021, Marsh McLennan committed to Ambitious about Autism's Employ Autism program, pledging to actively recruit autistic individuals. Since then, the company has provided 22 paid work experience opportunities for autistic youth throughout the UK, with half of these placements resulting in permanent employment.
Additionally, 238 employees have completed specialised training to better support autistic colleagues, and 74 recruitment staff members have been trained to understand autism, helping to refine hiring practices and make job descriptions and HR policies more inclusive.
The company says that it has also logged 4,000 hours of volunteer time by its UK staff in efforts to raise autism awareness. Moreover, the establishment of the Lived Experience Advisory Group, composed of neurodivergent employees, has led to the development of targeted resources for autistic employees and their families, facilitating significant workplace improvements.
Chris Lay, chief executive officer of Marsh McLennan UK, commented on the milestone as the firm expands its commitment to neurodiversity.
“As a result of our work with Ambitious about Autism, more and more neurodivergent individuals are bringing fresh perspectives and unique problem-solving capabilities to Marsh McLennan, enabling us to better serve clients and enrich our overall working environment. We look forward to furthering our efforts to remove all barriers to entry to the UK insurance industry and make Marsh McLennan a truly inclusive place to work for people across all differences and backgrounds,” he said.
Jolanta Lasota, chief executive officer of Ambitious about Autism, also expressed enthusiasm about the milestone and the work that Marsh McLennan UK put in.
“We’re thrilled that Marsh McLennan has achieved Autism Confidence and established itself as a sector leader in neuro-inclusion over the course of our hugely successful four-year strategic partnership. This has been made possible by the commitment and determination of Marsh McLennan senior leaders and colleagues, whose incredible efforts have raised awareness, funds and helped shape recruitment practices and a workplace culture that both welcomes and celebrates autistic people.
“We hope our pioneering partnership will inspire other businesses to follow Marsh McLennan’s lead, enabling more autistic young people to realise their ambitions in the world of work,” Lasota said.
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