UNA Alliance

Founding UNA Member, Sutton Winson is very proud to have won a Training Award at the 2018 UK Insurance Age Broker Awards. This award was designed to recognise investment we make in the staff skills - both technical and "soft". 

Throughout their history, they have developed and grown their own people. A demonstration of this is Martin Coppard who joined us as an Account Technician in 2000 and is now a NEBOSH qualified Risk Manager.

The high level of focus on training and development has been recognised as a part of the Chartered Broker application and our achievement of Investors in People Gold standard. In 2017, their employees won both the UNA Alliance Best Newcomer and Achievements Awards, and an employee was selected for CII New Generation Programme. Plus we employed 3 supplementary people on a 2-year Graduate Trainee Programme.

They are also supportive of wider development initiatives; for example, they’re funding a Russian course for an employee who expressed an interest in learning the language to engage with a growing number of the HNW Russian individuals coming to the UK. These external courses are supplemented by extensive internal training by experts in their areas on technical and soft skills, which adds ability to our skills portfolio and enhances our service proposition.

They're fully committed to becoming one of the best Independent Brokers to work with and for, through enhancing long term career opportunities, increasing staff motivation and retention.

Mr Toomey of Apex Consultants (first apprenticeship provider to secure CII accredited provider status) commented: “Since we started working with Sutton Winson 15 years ago, we have seen a very impressive commitment to apprenticeships as well as other learning. The fact that more than 30% of its staff have gone through the apprenticeship route demonstrates the value it places on the programme and its structured, supported learning.

“Sutton Winson was a natural early adopter for the Level 4 apprenticeship and it is pleasing to see high numbers of Level 3 apprenticeships moving to the next level and, in doing so, achieving the CII Diploma in Insurance. We expect the Level 4 apprenticeship to result in higher numbers of people across the sector completing the Advanced Diploma in Insurance.”

Mario Zakakiotis (Graduate Trainee) commented: "Since starting at Sutton Winson I have been given the support and encouragement that has enabled me to develop personally and professionally. I feel part of a team, not just in my chosen area but throughout all areas of the business. The training programme ensures I get the most out of my development in order to reach my full potential and is setting me up for a great future in the insurance industry. I look forward to what lies ahead."