Local employer, Fortis (Insurance, UK) today presented the Hampshire Autistic Society, with £5,000 to support the charity's local initiatives. Staff at the Eastleigh based insurance company selected the Hampshire Autistic Society as the company's ‘charity of the year' 2009, as recommended by Gary Littlecott, In-house Staff Engineer at Fortis, who has personal experience of the charity's support for a close friend.
Lyn Nicholls, HR Director, Fortis said: "I'm delighted to be able to present this cheque to the Hampshire Autistic Society on behalf of our employees. I am very proud of the effort made by staff to support such a worthy appeal and am pleased to be able to help the charity deliver its services in the local area. As one of the largest employers in Eastleigh, we are committed to local charity activity and last year supported over 100 charities and local community groups in both Eastleigh and Gloucester, donating over £40,000 in total."
The society provides a number of services in Hampshire including Self Help groups, a School, Post 16 Further Education, Residential Care, Adult Day Services and Outreach Support. Sally Hillyear, Fundraising Manager, said: "To be chosen as ‘charity of the year' for Fortis Insurance is fantastic for the society as it will enable us to raise awareness through the staff and in turn we hope that they will spread the word to their families and friends. It will also help us raise vital funds to allow us to continue to provide these services in Hampshire".
Fortis Foundation
As a major employer in Eastleigh, with over 900 staff, Fortis is committed to supporting the local community and charity activity as part of its social responsibility programme. Fortis recently set up a UK Foundation focused on supporting charities through the volunteer programme involving employees from its business lines. The Foundation complements Fortis' existing charitable activity and allows up to an annual total of 250 working days to be dedicated to local volunteer activity by Fortis employees around the UK..
Employees have already given time to support Foundation initiatives. Five members of staff at the Eastleigh office gave up time to paint the local Botley Hall used by Botley Alphabet Pre-School and a local Scout and Guide Group. In addition Fortis is supporting the local Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) for the fourth consecutive year, with employees from its Eastleigh office participating in the walk at Paultons Park in September and the Managing Director of the Bournemouth office (RIAS) chairing the Dorset Walk also in September.
Fortis - a growing local employer
Fortis recently reported a strong set of results for 2008 and announced plans for further growth in the year ahead. With almost 900 employees based at its Eastleigh Head Office, the company expects to create further job opportunities in the UK in 2009 to support continued business development.
Highlights included:
2008 saw a significant increase in profit to £76 million, compared to £30 million the previous year.
Premiums also increased to £760 million (2007: £758 million).
Fortis now insurers nearly 7 million customers in the UK, including in excess of 1.6 million private car customers making Fortis the third largest car insurer in the UK.
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Notes to editors
About Fortis
Fortis (Insurance UK) is a leading provider of award-winning personal and commercial lines insurance solutions in the UK. Fortis UK has two main divisions, manufacturing both non-life and life products, which are distributed through a range of channels including brokers, IFAs, intermediaries, affinity partners and the Internet, as well as various wholly or partially-owned companies (RIAS, Fortis Insurance Solutions, Affinity Solutions Ltd, Text2Insure and InsureTECH Systems).
Insuring in excess of 6.7 million customers and working with a range of partners, Fortis is recognised for delivering consistent and high-quality customer experiences. It employs almost 3,000 people with a head office based in Eastleigh and others in Belfast, Bournemouth, Gloucester, Haywards Heath, London, Redditch, and Stoke-on-Trent. In 2008, its non-life profit before tax and interest was £76 million and its non-life GWP was £760 million.
Press contacts
Natalie Shale, Fortis UK, 023 8035 2754
Louisa Barnard, Fortis UK, 023 8031 3147
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