AXA UK becomes Disability Confident Leader

Disability Confident Leader is the top level of a scheme encouraging employers to hire and advance people with disabilities
3 December is the International Day of People with Disabilities
AXA employees are invited to a panel on accessibility and a webinar on neurodiversity

AXA UK has become a Disability Confident Leader, as the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has granted the insurer the highest level of recognition in a scheme that encourages employers to recruit, retain and develop people with disabilities.

The news is being announced on Tuesday 3 December to coincide with the International Day of People with Disabilities (IDPWD), a United Nations (UN) initiative which has chosen ‘The Future Is Accessible’ as its 2019 theme.

In the UK, 7.6 million working-age people have a disability. Supported by the DWP, Disability Confident (DC) is a voluntary scheme developed by employers and disabled people’s representatives. It encourages employers to improve how they recruit, retain and develop people with disabilities.

The scheme has three levels:

Disability Confident Committed Employer (level 1)
Disability Confident Employer (level 2)
Disability Confident Leader (level 3)

To reach the top level, besides previous commitments regarding recruitment, adjustments and support, businesses must: employ people with disabilities; report on disability, mental health and wellbeing; and act as a Disability Confident champion within their local and business communities.

“We are thrilled to have achieved the top level of recognition in the Disability Confident scheme for employers. It shows how committed we are to recruiting from the widest possible pool of talent – and retaining that talent. This diversity is crucial to better compete in our chosen markets. But it is far more than this: being a Disability Confident Leader really shows us living our values and embracing inclusion. By building a diverse workforce that reflects our customers, we can better serve them. This official accolade says we are a business that cares.”

— Mark Howes, AXA PPP healthcare’s COO, and Executive Sponsor of the Able Employee Resource Group]

Dan Neill - Disability Confident Leader.jpg

“Three years ago, a period of depression and a passing comment from my wife led to me being diagnosed autistic. Far from being limiting, this has been one of the most personally and professionally liberating periods of my life. AXA encourages me to embrace my differences, which are seen as strengths, and to bring 100% of me to work each day.”

— Dan Neill, MI Analyst at AXA PPP healthcare

To celebrate the International Day of People with Disabilities on 3 December, AXA employees are invited to join a lunchtime event in London featuring Emma Case, the Founder of Women Beyond The Box, an online platform for neurodivergent women; Marianne Waite, the Director of The Valuable 500 Campaign; professional speaker Steven Dowd, who was paralysed from the neck down in a cycling accident; and Paul Dockerty, Wellbeing Consultant at AXA UK. In the afternoon, Case will also hold a webinar on neurodiversity.

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Legal notes

About AXA UK

AXA Insurance UK plc registered in England and Wales under registered number 078950 and authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority under Financial Conduct Authority registration number 202312. Registered office is 20 Gracechurch Street, London, EC3V 0BG.

AXA UK is part of the AXA Group, a worldwide leader in insurance and asset management, with 147,000 employees serving 94 million clients in 50 countries. In 2023, IFRS revenues amounted to Euro 102.7 billion and underlying earnings to Euro 7.6 billion. AXA had Euro 844 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2023.

In the UK & Ireland, AXA operates through a number of business units including: AXA Insurance, AXA Health and AXA Ireland. AXA UK & Ireland employs around 10,000 staff.

Important legal information and cautionary statements concerning forward-looking statements

Certain statements contained herein may be forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, statements that are predictions of or indicate future events, trends, plans, expectations or objectives. Undue reliance should not be placed on such statements because, by their nature, they are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and can be affected by other factors that could cause AXA’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward looking statements. Please refer to Part 5: “Risk Factors and Risk Management” of AXA’s Universal Registration Document 2022, for a description of certain important factors, risks and uncertainties that may affect AXA’s business and / or results of operations. AXA undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any of these forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws and regulations.