Lloyd’s and 49 other insurance firms and trade bodies operating in the UK have become founding signatories to an Inclusive Behaviours Pledge that promotes diversity across the industry.

The pledge commits CEOs to take action if employees are treated differently or discriminated against due to age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion, belief, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, maternity or marital status.

Lloyd’s CEO Inga Beale, who spearheaded the initiative with Zurich UK CEO Tulsi Naidu, says the industry has come a long way but there is still work to be done.

“The Inclusive Behaviours Pledge is a public commitment reinforcing our promise as individual organisations, and as a collective, to challenge inappropriate behaviour and create increasingly welcoming and inclusive workplaces for the diverse talent powering our sector,” she said.

Signatories include QBE, Zurich, Aviva, RSA, AXA, Willis Towers Watson, Marsh, the British Insurance Brokers Association (BIBA) and the Association of British Insurers (ABI).

“Insurance broking is much richer for having a diverse range of people employed in it,” BIBA CEO Steve White said.

“The coming together of the insurance sector in signing this pledge signals a positive change in attitude and we are proud to be a part of it.”

ABI Director General Huw Evans says the insurance sector “is on a steep path” towards being a properly diverse and inclusive industry.

“Along with the wider financial services industry it has a lot to do, but good progress is being made thanks to initiatives such as the Women in Finance Charter and strong commitment from industry leaders,” he said.