Penny Black's Social World - 26 November 2015

The Big Picture

Allianz Global Assistance UK volunteers helped collect more than £50,000 for Children In Need 2015.

At the company’s Croydon call centre, a team of 100 volunteers answered the phones for BBC Children In Need on 13 November. They helped collect £53,163 in donations and pledges for the charity.


The volunteers were pampered throughout the event, with massages, face painting and magic tricks. To keep their energy levels up, local businesses had donated pizzas, crisps, sandwiches, shortbread, doughnuts, coconut water, beer and other refreshments.

Each volunteer received a goody bag containing sweets, puzzles and magazines. And some got football tickets to see the upcoming game between Crystal Palace and Sunderland. There was also a raffle with yet more prizes.


The Big Debate

What impact will AIG’s executive reshuffle have on the wider market? US-based insurer AIG has announced a restructuring programme costing approximately $500m (£326.9m) in which it is believed AIG UK managing director Jaqueline McNamee is one of up to 400 senior executives globally that will leave the business. The move follows cost-saving measures announced at Zurich as well. What impact will these programmes have on the sector? What do they say about the current state of the market?
Katie Marriner, senior reporter, Post
Have your say at bit.ly/PostLinkedIn


Fresh From Facebook

RSA is sponsoring the “Samuel Pepys: Plague, Fire, Revolution” exhibition, which opens tomorrow at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich.


“Events described in Pepys diaries have strong ties to RSA’s 305 year history which started in a London coffee shop after the Great Fire of London as well as being a leading marine insurer,” says Jon Hancock, managing director of UK commercial.

Pepys kept his diary in the 1660s, describing his private life but also historical events like the 1666 Great Fire.

RSA’s history dates back to 1710, with the establishment of the Sun Fire Office, which later became Sun Alliance and merged with Royal Insurance.


Fresh From Facebook 2

The Floow has received a road safety award for telematics work undertaken in collaboration with Direct Line.


The Sheffield-based developer has received a Prince Michael International Road Safety Award. Its telematics platform takes GPS and accelerometer data from black boxes or smartphones in cars. It compares the recorded speed, acceleration and braking to how other motorists drive on the same stretch of road, before delivering feedback.

Road Safe, the organisation behind the award, says the Floow has received the distinction for work undertaken in collaboration with Direct Line Group, and has been especially recognised for the “development and implementation of feedback to influence driver behaviour”.


Tweets of the Week

Made it onto the cover of @Insurance_Post magazine... #CareerGoals pic.twitter.com/odbRiPmtfK

— paul heybourne (@InnovationPaul) November 19, 2015

Made it to the cover of insurance post. Mother very proud. @Insurance_Post pic.twitter.com/RlD9GZjwUP

— Freddy Macnamara (@_freddymac) November 19, 2015