Glassdoor Updates
Hiscox: “We Are Proud of What Our Employees Say About Us”
Glassdoor Team
Glassdoor Team | Author & Career Expert at Glassdoor | 6 Dec 2018
Insurance company, Hiscox, was this week crowned as UK’s #7 Best Place To Work in 2019, beating the likes of SAP, Taylor Wimpey, Capital One and Google. They are also now the highest rated insurer in the UK.
Here we speak to Hiscox’s Head of Recruitment, Vanessa Newbury, to find out how they plan to bring a more “diverse thinking” approach to the business in the future and understand exactly why they are trying to hire so many Data Scientists.
What does it mean to have your employees honour the company as a 2019 Best Place to Work?
I feel proud and really excited that we are in the top 50 Best Places to work for 2019. It feels all the more special because it’s based on feedback from our employees. There are many things we still want to do and we’re always looking for ways to improve but this award helps me realise that we are getting some things right. From a selfish point of view I know that it positively impacts attraction and retention as more and more people are telling us that what they see and read online influenced their decision to work here. As a growing company, it makes life a bit easier for the recruitment team.
What are two or three steps your company has taken within the last year to double down on company culture, employee engagement and employee feedback that may have led to this win?
Our employee networks are definitely making a difference;, a year ago we had one network and now we have nine. They include Women at Hiscox, LGBT+, parents and care givers, Latinos, mental health awareness and employee wellness, pan-African employees and a cross generational group. We’ve also done a lot more to encourage flexible working and this has been reflected in our online reviews and comments in our engagement survey. More and more employees are seeing the improvements and letting us know that they value the flexibility we can offer.
This award speaks volumes about the company but also signals to job seekers that this is an amazing place to work. Why should job seekers apply for an open role at Hiscox? What are two to three benefits, practices or traditions that are unique to your company?
People like that they’re encouraged to think creatively and some describe an entrepreneurial spirit they wouldn’t have necessarily associated with an insurer. We’ve always had a reputation for doing things differently – whether that’s how we treat our customers, the diverse career paths people forge with us or our unique working environments. People are often surprised to learn that we have a decommissioned rocket in our reception in York and an art collection which moves around our offices.
As a thank you, we also give employees either a food or wine hamper or vouchers at Christmas, depending on where they work, and after 10 years’ service employees receive an 8 week paid sabbatical.
What kinds of roles are your company prioritising right now? What types of innovation are you investing in within that specific department?
Our data strategy movement is picking up pace and as such there is a real focus on data and analytics in the business. In the last year we’ve added data scientists to nearly all of our departments and we’re focusing on using data to help drive our key decisions. This means hiring smart, capable people who can help us leverage the increasing amount of data we can access. We’re not only hiring technical experts but are also looking for strategic thinkers who can help join business problems with analytical solutions. For example our Data Labs team, a centre of excellence for analytics usage across Hiscox, is hiring a Data Strategy Consultant who will lead engagements with the business to identify where analytics can add value.
Glassdoor is all about transparency and helping people everywhere find a job and company they love. What insights can you share about the interview process at Hiscox? What types of questions do you ask?
We want to bring diverse thinking to the business and look for people with something about them – so we ask questions to try and draw that out. We’ve had people join us from all walks of life because we saw the chance to unlock real potential. We don’t necessarily just want people who have an insurance background so if you have never worked in insurance before don’t be put off, we might have the perfect role for you.
How are you using Glassdoor to attract the types of candidates you’re looking for?
We talk about our position in the Glassdoor top ten Best Places to Work and encourage applicants to read our reviews. We are proud of what our employees say about us. We know we are not perfect but believe all the comments on Glassdoor help people make an informed decision about whether Hiscox is the right company for them. We would rather people decide not to work for us because what they’ve read doesn’t feel right rather than they join and leave.
What keeps you at the company for the long haul? What advice would you give to companies focused on retention?
I love that I’ve been able to make the job my own – I’ve been able to grow a team here. We didn’t have a recruitment function a few years ago and now we employ a team of 12 across the world – that’s been really rewarding. It’s great that you are treated like an adult and are trusted to get on with the job from day one. I feel that I’ve been encouraged to grow and learn, I’m not a recruitment expert but was given the opportunity to build a team from scratch. I made mistakes but love the fact that we aren’t afraid of failure.
My advice to companies focused on retention would be to give people real responsibility so that they can have a real impact on the business. Make your leaders accessible and encourage open and transparent communication.
How can job seekers get prepared for the future of work in your industry?
Talent is more important than ever and as a growing company we’re looking for people that are comfortable with change and are able to adapt to it. We are looking for people who are able to think differently and challenge the status quo you will have to be able to show us that you are comfortable doing this.
Apply for jobs at Hiscox today!
Glassdoor Team
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Tags:Best Places to Work
