News
New appointments underline Cirencester Friendly’s commitment to investing in current and new talent
01 October 2024
Sue Kissane promoted from Senior Medical Underwriter to Underwriting Manager Rob Higgins promoted from Claims Manager to Senior Manager - Claims Apprenticeship scheme launched with eight participants in 2024 Two new appointments in Cirencester Friendly’s underwriting and claims teams underline the Society’s commitment to growing its own talent and creating clear career pathways to success for team members. This policy forms an integral part of Cirencester’s ethos to create a supportive and working environment where employees can flourish.
Institute of Customer Service awards Cirencester Friendly ServiceMark Accreditation with Distinction
01 July 2024
Cirencester Friendly joins 22 other organisations in the UK in achieving ServiceMark Accreditation with Distinction and is the only one from the protection industry The accreditation is awarded for a period of three years The process involved in-depth interviews with 35 employees The accreditation reflects the emphasis placed on service quality as a key organisational goal High service standards are a key factor in the Society’s strong financial performance in 2023 Cirencester Friendly has achieved the Institute of Customer Service’s ServiceMark Accreditation with Distinction, reflecting the Society’s continued commitment to providing exceptional customer service.
The Right DA Club Add Cirencester Friendly To Protection Panel
22 May 2024
The Right DA Club has today (22 May 2024) announced the addition of mutual provider, Cirencester Friendly, to its protection panel.
Right DA Club members can now access Cirencester’s comprehensive range of income protection cover products which includes:
My Earnings Protected – comes with a choice of long- or short-term claim periods; own occupation cover; no premium loading for occupation, smoking or hazardous pursuits, guaranteed premiums with a choice of level or annual escalating; a wide range of deferred periods; cover up to 65% of earnings available.
Cirencester Friendly announces new Proposition Manager
01 May 2024
As part of their ambitious growth strategy, Cirencester Friendly has created the brand-new position of Proposition Manager. The role will be taken on by Victoria Clark, who has been promoted from her current position of Senior Marketing Executive.
Victoria has been with Cirencester Friendly for more than eight years. Starting out in the Customer Care Team, Victoria made the move into Marketing in 2018 and has been involved in a wide range of adviser and Member-facing projects, including onboarding new strategic partners and the new 2-year short-term benefit option.
Cirencester Friendly Join ABI Membership
24 April 2024
Income protection specialist Cirencester Friendly have become the latest new ABI member, joining the voice of the UK’s leading insurance and long-term savings sector.
Cirencester Friendly is a mutual insurer, owned by its more than 44,000 Members. Every decision is taken for the benefit of these Members. Becoming part of the ABI demonstrates the commitment the organisation has to providing Members with the best possible products and services. It also underlines the growing voice and position Cirencester Friendly has in the market, as it looks to raise awareness of both the value of income protection and mutual organisations.
Almost half of Cirencester Friendly's claims in 2023 were from millennials
14 March 2024
95.8% of claims paid, up 0.4% on 2022 figures
An average of 94.5% of claims paid over the past decade
In total, more than £9.3 million was paid to Members in benefits
32% of claims related to accidents, 25% to musculoskeletal issues and arthritis
Average age of male claimants is 40 and female claimants 42
47.6% of claims were from millennials (those aged 27 to 41)
95% of claims were made after a deferred period of four weeks or less
New Director of Customer Experience
28 February 2024
As part of their continued commitment to exceptional service, Cirencester Friendly has created a new position of Director of Customer Experience. Michelle West-Wiggins, the previous Head of Customer Experience and Claims has been promoted to take on this fresh challenge.
These changes mean Michelle becomes a member of the Executive Team, ensuring customers are at the heart of all strategic decision making. Robert Higgins has been promoted to Claims Manager and will report directly to Michelle.
Building towards a sustainable future in 2024
18 December 2023
Cirencester Friendly have been working hard through 2023 to ensure we keep our neutral carbon footprint. Our aim was to further instigate key policies at the benefit of staff and increase our support within the local community. This year, we have made great headway to becoming an even “greener” Society.
Attaining a Net-Zero Carbon Footprint As you may be aware, we are a socially conscious enterprise, and our commitment has been unwavering.
Cirencester Friendly maintains superior customer service rating with advisers
15 December 2023
Achieved 89.2 in the latest Institute of Customer Service Business Benchmarking survey The organisation continues to benchmark more than 10 points above the insurance industry UK Customer Satisfaction Index average of 78.7 Places Cirencester firmly in the upper quartile of the B2B organisations. Cirencester Friendly is delighted to announce another strong set of results from this year’s Institute of Customer Service Business Benchmarking Survey. Cirencester achieved an impressive rating of 89.
Cirencester Friendly announces a new board member and chairperson
31 July 2023
Cirencester Friendly is thrilled to announce that Vicky Churcher has been appointed as a new Non-Executive Director and Janice Banks, previously a Non-Executive Director, has become their new Chairperson. They both bring a wealth of experience to their new roles and the appointments demonstrate the Society’s ambition to evolve, harnessing the very best expertise in the sector.
Vicky Churcher brings to Cirencester Friendly more than 35 years of experience in financial services and insurance.
TMA Club adds Cirencester Friendly to protection panel
11 July 2023
TMA Club has announced the launch of a new partnership with Cirencester Friendly Society, adding its range of protection products to the TMA protection panel.
Established in 1890, Cirencester Friendly is a provider of income protection products, including its ‘My eEarnings pProtected’ and ‘Income Aassured eEnhanced’ products. As part of its ‘My Earnings Protected’ income protection product, the society recently launched a new affordable and flexible short-term benefit option, offering up to two years’ protection per claim, giving offering more clients an affordable way to protect their livelihoods, should they be unable to work due to illness or injury.
Cirencester Friendly launches a Short-Term benefit option
20 June 2023
Cirencester Friendly has announced it is widening its product range, launching a short-term benefit option to its award winning My Earnings Protected income protection product. The new option provides cover for up to two years per claim, giving members an affordable way to cover their household bills should they be unable to work due to illness or injury.
Cover that reflects real life Cirencester Friendly’s new short-term benefit option has been introduced in response to demand from both advisers and consumers.
Cirencester Friendly awarded Gold Accreditation by Investors in People
07 June 2023
Cirencester Friendly is delighted to announce they’ve been awarded “We Invest in People Gold Accreditation” by Investors in People. This is a significant achievement for the Society, which improves on the Silver Accreditation gained in 2020 during their initial assessment. This higher level demonstrates the emphasis the Society places on nurturing and developing its talent and is a vital part of the growth strategy.
Since Investors in People was founded in 1991, with the mission to make work better, thousands of companies have been assessed around the world with only 16% achieving gold accreditation.
PMS boosts protection offering with Cirencester Friendly partnership
03 May 2023
PMS Mortgage Club, part of Sesame Bankhall Group, has enhanced its protection offering with the addition of leading mutual society Cirencester Friendly as one of its partner firms.
The move gives PMS members access to Cirencester Friendly’s income protection products: Income Assured Enhanced and My Earnings Protected. The products cover up to 65% of a customer’s income should they become unable to work due to illness or injury. They are designed to be both affordable and inclusive, with There is no premium loading for smoking, occupation, or hazardous pursuits.
Cirencester Friendly pays more than 95% of claims in 2022
28 February 2023
Individual income protection provider Cirencester Friendly paid 95.4% of claims in 2022. This represents a slight increase from 2021 when 93.6% of claims were paid and maintains an impressive record of paying on average more than 94% of claims over the past decade.
Cirencester paid 1,348 claims across their portfolio in 2022. Most claimants (59%) were aged between 31 and 50, but almost a quarter (23%) were aged 30 or under.
Cirencester Friendly announces new Strategic Partnership Manager
07 February 2023
Cirencester Friendly is delighted to announce that Jo Wilkie has been appointed as their new Strategic Partnership Manager, taking up her position on 06 March 2023.
Jo has more than 20 years’ experience in financial services, working at a senior level in both relationship management and business development roles. Much of her experience has been with leading technology providers, having worked at both iPipeline and Iress. In addition to that, Jo has had a variety of roles with product providers, including Vitality, The Exeter and Guardian.