News

Cirencester Friendly is delighted to have joined the International Cooperative and Mutual Insurance Federation (ICMIF). This global organisation brings together more than 200 purpose-led members from 60 countries. It aims to promote the mutual/cooperative proposition by providing a powerful voice for the sector, fostering connections between member organisations and sharing knowledge.

Andy Morris, CEO at Cirencester Friendly said: “Being a mutual organisation is right at the heart of everything we do at Cirencester Friendly. We are proud to put the needs of Members first and always look to be there to help and support them whenever possible. Joining ICMIF is an important strategic move for the society, especially with the Labour government reviewing the mutual sector and how it can unlock its full potential. Building connections with other mutuals from around the world and learning from their experiences, while sharing best practise will be hugely beneficial in supporting our ambitious growth aims. This is a positive and exciting time to be part of the mutual movement, and we look forward to working closely with ICMIF in 2025 and beyond.”

• 27% have taken more than a month off due to ill-health or injury
• The average time people have had to take off is four and a half months
• 11% of those that have had to take time off due to illness or injury don’t think they’ll ever return to work
• 1 in 5 people know someone off work due to long-term illness or injury
• One third say they have had less contact with a person they know who is off work due to long-term illness or injury
• The concept of income protection appeals to 74% of people aged 34 and under

A new survey* from income protection specialist Cirencenster Friendly reveals just how common it is for people to have to take time off work due to accidents or ill health. More than a quarter of those surveyed said they had a to take a month or more off work. This rises to 35% among those aged 55 and over. This isn’t an issue that just affects older workers, one in seven (14%) of those aged 34 and under have been unable to work for a month or more due to illness or injury.

Schroders today announces it has been selected to manage Cirencester Friendly’s £75 million investment portfolio.

Cirencester has provided income protection and additional support to thousands of Members for more than 130 years. This appointment has reinforced Schroders’ credentials as an insurance asset management leader to the financial mutuals sector.

The award of this insurance mandate, which encompasses Schroders’ Multi-Asset and Insurance Solutions capabilities, emphasises the importance Schroders places on working with the UK’s mutual sector.

• 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.

• 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. This independent assessment found that customer service was a key priority throughout the Society and employees are focused on putting the needs of Members and Advisers first. The ServiceMark also reflects the rating of 89.2 Cirencester received in the Institute of Customer Service Business Benchmark Survey 2023, which placed the Society in the upper quartile for B2B businesses.