Case Study: Training and Development - Aviva PLC

At Aviva 52% of the worldwide workforce is female. At the senior management level it is 17% and there is a desire across the company to increase the percentage of senior women. The Global Senior Women’s Network Group was set up to attract, retain and advance talented women and promote a totally inclusive workforce.

The purpose of the Global Network was to facilitate and support activities driven by local management teams. Activities included:

• Opportunities for women in management to network both internally and externally by providing contacts and exposure to senior leaders, enabling cross communication, learning and mobility
• Training, development and mentoring opportunities for women
• Opportunities to feedback to the Group Executive on specific issues, eg, in 2007 work on how to retain key female talent will be presented to the Group HR Director
• Ongoing forum for best practice, generation of new ideas and problem resolution, including how to develop networks and mentoring schemes as well as specific marketing and business initiatives

Around 40 women attended the launch of the Global Network in Paris in February 2006. Since then the organisation has benefited from the following initiatives:

• Local networks set up in Norwich and London. Sponsored by non-HR senior women, these network events have included guest speakers, mentoring sessions and networking amongst colleagues. Both networks already have more than 150 members with Steering Committees established and activities planned for 2007/08.
• A cross mentoring programme being piloted for senior women in the Netherlands to promote cross organisation/industry learning.
• External branding events in the UK reflecting the gender agenda, for example, the Aviva Breast Cancer Breakthrough Research Walk.
• A significant project in the UK to ensure that diversity was reflected and embedded in all key stages of recruitment including advertising, diversity job fairs, consultants briefs and recruiter training.
• Global Network event in Madrid in May 2007 which was attended by 50 senior women managers. The conference recognised and challenged progress and delegates suggested retention techniques for senior women. A development session on ‘playing to your strengths’ was organised and inspirational speakers were invited