The podcast about the company which is disrupting the insurance industry and using technology for a better tomorrow.

The Aviva Podcast

Earlier this year Aviva unveiled its new brand positioning, 'It takes Aviva'.

As part of this Aviva has done something it's never done before - develop a sonic logo and a bespoke piece of music, both of which will be used to drive brand recognition.

The plan is to use it everywhere - from adverts to apps to customer phone lines.

In this podcast you can hear from Alex Wodrich from Berlin-based agency 'why do birds' who created the sonic branding and Sally House, Brand Design Lead from Aviva.

And you can even find out how 'why do birds' brought to life the sound of yellow!

Brand special Ep1: The power of a sonic logo

Quantum is Aviva's data science community. But what exactly is data science?

In this episode of the Aviva Podcast, our host Ben Moss asks that very question of Sarah Applegate, Quantum data science & partnerships lead, and Craig Armstrong, lead data scientist at Aviva.

Learn what data science is, what it's used for, and what it takes to become a data scientist yourself.

Quantum special: What is data science?

In the second of our mini-series of wellbeing specials, our host, Jonny Monkhouse, talks to Aviva employees and couple Matthew and Daniel about their experiences living with autism.

Hear about their differing experiences of diagnosis, living with Asperger’s through their school, university and working lives – as well as how it affects them as a couple.

Both Matthew and Daniel have Asperger syndrome, otherwise known as Asperger’s, which is an autism spectrum disorder. Among other symptoms, it’s characterised by difficulties in social interaction and communication.
If you want to know more about autism or discover any potential support available then these resources may help.

NHS - Guide to autism: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/autism/ 

National Autistics Society: https://www.autism.org.uk/ 

Royal College of Psychiatrists - Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorders: for parents, carers and anyone working with young people: https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/healthadvice/parentsandyoungpeople/parentscarers/autismandaspergerssyndrome.aspx

If you’re outside the UK then please look up what other resources are available to you locally.

A transcript of this episode will be made available on aviva.com

Wellbeing special: Living and working with autism

In our third wellbeing special episode, our host Johnny Monkhouse talks about loneliness with Dr. Rob Rosa.

Whether you're experiencing it yourself, or you want to help others who may be feeling lonely, Dr. Rob Rosa shares helpful advice on how to tackle loneliness and what resources are out there to help.

Wellbeing special: Dealing with loneliness

In 1919, we settled an apprenticeship hiring choice by flipping a coin… fast forward to 2021 and apprenticeships at Aviva have changed quite significantly!

In this latest Quantum special, find out about apprenticeships in general from Sophie Gray, understand how Aviva uses them as a development opportunity, and hear one of our own data scientists, Jamie Southchurch, discuss his journey through two different levels of apprenticeships.

More information:

See more about careers at Aviva: https://careers.aviva.co.uk/
Learn more about apprenticeships on the UK government's website: https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk

Quantum special: Apprenticeships

When machine learning models are used in critical areas like medicine, finance and the criminal justice system, their black-box nature can be a major issue.

This is where Cambridge PhD Student Jonathan Crabbe's research comes in. Jonathan's work consists of developing explainability methods that create an interface between complex models and human users. 

In this Quantum special episode of the Aviva Podcast, Jonathan joins Aviva's UK general insurance Analytics Director Stephen Shaw to delve into his research.

Quantum special: Machine learning

To mark International Women’s Day 2022, in this episode we're joined by two of our female data science leaders at Aviva. Listen in as they share their life and career experiences - good, bad and ugly - with host Andrew Spinks.

Dorothy Comber (VP of Data Science, Aviva Canada) and Siobhan Keleher (Head of Data Analytics, Aviva UKGI) talk about commonly faced issues like imposter syndrome, wonky careers, and being the only woman in the room.

They also look at the support provided - and the honest conversations encouraged - by Aviva on these topics.

Quantum special: Women in data science

Listen in as Martin, Natalie and Kofi share their stories of why Aviva Carers is so important, and why the community means so much to them.

It's Carers Week in the UK from 6-12 June.

It's the one week of the year where people come together to raise awareness of caring, to highlight the challenges that unpaid carers face, and to recognise the contributions that carers make to their families and to their communities.

Given that this year's theme for Carers Week is 'visible, valued and supported', it felt right that we do what we can to give some of that visibility to our own carers community: Aviva Carers.

It's why we spent some time talking to Martin, one of our executive sponsors of the community, about why this group of people is so important to him personally, but also to Aviva generally.

We spoke to Natalie, one of our Aviva Carers co-chairs, about what kinds of things the community does for our carers at Aviva and why she gives so much of her time outside of her day job to help make that happen. 

Finally, we spoke to Kofi, one of our carers at Aviva, to hear about his own experiences caring, loss, and why the carers community matters so much to him.

You can find a transcript and further information on this episode here: https://www.aviva.com/newsroom/podcasts/our-carers-community-compassionate-caring-and-resilient.html

Our carers community: compassionate, caring and resilient

In this episode of the Aviva Podcast, David, Jenny and Jason share their stories of what Aviva's Pride community is all about, why it’s so important, and what it means to them.

June is Pride Month, and we wanted to take the opportunity to talk to three of our colleagues from around the world who are involved in Aviva Pride in some way.

We spoke to David, a graduate apprentice in Aviva UK and a member of Aviva Pride, about why this community is so important to him personally, and why “bringing your whole self to work” is key.

We spoke to Jenny, a team leader in Aviva Ireland’s Life contact centre and co-chair of Aviva Pride in Ireland. Jenny shares why she gives so much of her time to help make Pride – and why she “love, love, loves the role”.

Finally, we spoke to Jason, CEO of Aviva Canada and one of our executive sponsors of Pride. Find out why Pride means so much to Jason, and why he feels like he needs to lead by example.

Aviva Pride: amazing, supportive and hopeful

There are currently around 900,000 people living with dementia in the UK. This is projected to rise to 1.6 million by 2040. 

Cognitive resilience can have a significant impact on how a person experiences dementia and other signs of age-related cognitive decline. 

In this episode of the Quantum podcast, University of Cambridge PhD student, Jessica McMaster, teaches us you are never too young, or too old, to start building your cognitive reserves; while Robert Morrison (Chief Underwriting Officer in our Protection business) explains why this topic is so important to Aviva.

Quantum special: Cognitive resilience

Career changes can be daunting, especially when that change is into the ever-developing world of data science. In this episode we hear from Funmi Oshinubi and Suhailla Rashid, who did just this and are now working in data roles within Aviva. 

They share their biggest surprises and hurdles experienced, along with highlights of commonalities and skill sets they were able to utilise from their previous roles.

As well as changing careers, we explore the topics of moving countries for work and returning to the workplace after a multi-year career beak.

Quantum special: Navigating career changes

This podcast explores fairness and ethical considerations when using techniques such as machine learning in a business setting. 

We're joined by Michelle Lee, who recently submitted her Aviva sponsored PhD in “Context-conscious fairness throughout the machine learning lifecycle” and Stephen Shaw - Director of Analytics in Aviva’s UK General Insurance business. 

We explore the need to address the gap between theory and practice, managing proxies, the capabilities of open source fairness toolkits and the seriousness with which Aviva takes its responsibilities on this topic.

Quantum special: Data ethics

Take a moment to think of an innovative company. What’s the first one that pops into your mind? You might be thinking of one of the massive Silicon Valley tech firms. You might, instead, be thinking of a tiny start-up. Someone changing the world from a bedroom in a semi-detached, perhaps.

It’s likely that you’re not thinking about an insurer, though.

In this episode of the Aviva Podcast, we talk about innovation with Ben Luckett, our Chief Innovation Officer at Aviva, and Owen Morris, Managing Director of Personal Lines to talk about innovation at Aviva, and how Aviva Zero stands out as a great example.

You can find this full feature, a transcript, and watch the interview films with Owen and Ben in full on our website: https://www.aviva.com/newsroom/perspectives/2023/02/from-zero-to-zero-an-innovation-story.html 

For more information on Aviva Zero you can visit the Aviva Zero site here: https://zero.aviva.co.uk/

From zero to Aviva Zero: an innovation story

How long did you spend planning your last holiday?

Was it more or less time than you’ve spent planning your retirement? 

If it was more, you’re not alone. Pensions can be daunting. Even just understanding the basics can feel like a lot.  

That’s why, in this episode of the Aviva podcast, Steve and Tom from Aviva aim to help you unpack it all. 

Whether your pension is with Aviva or not, listen in to find out the difference between defined benefit and defined contribution, the hands-on versus the hands-off approach, the fees you might pay and how the economies of scale can work in your favour.  

You'll even learn why Copenhagen is such a great city to run a marathon in.  

More information:

https://www.gov.uk 

https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en

There is a transcript of this episode available on aviva.com

Retirement: the longest holiday you'll ever plan

In this episode, we explore pension transfers. Whether you're thinking about consolidating multiple pension pots or simply curious about your options, we discuss the positives and considerations of combining pensions pots.

You can find a transcript of this episode on this page: https://workplace.aviva.co.uk/financial-education-clients/podcasttranscripts/

Transfer Talk

Release date: 10 August 2017

Many people's dream would be to get paid to work on video games. Charles Reeves did just that, working on Call of Duty, one of the most successful video game series ever made. But he wanted a new challenge, so at Aviva, he's working on how get more people interested in pensions and insurance. Find out how on this edition of the Aviva Podcast

From Call of Duty to pensions and insurance

Release date: 29 June 2017

In this Aviva podcast, presenter Ben Moss visits Aviva's Digital Garage to meet the people who are creating the insurance business of the future.

Welcome to the Aviva Digital Garage

Release date: 13 July 2017

To become truly digital company, Aviva has to be disrespectful to process.  That's according to Aviva's MD of UK Digital,  Blair Turnbull. He's been speaking to the Aviva Podcast to explain exactly what that means.

Aviva: Disrespectful to process

Release date: 25 July 2017

In this edition of the Aviva Podcast, Andrew Brem, Aviva's Chief Digital Officer, explains why they have set up Digital Garages around the world and how they're reinventing insurance.

https://digital.aviva.com/
https://www.instagram.com/avivadigital/
https://twitter.com/AvivaInnovation

Rocket scientists & video games

Investing in a business can be a bit like dating. Is it long term, is it serious, do you get excited when they call you??? 

To find out we've been talking to Ben Luckett, MD Aviva Ventures and Colin Richardson, co-founder and Head of Marketing at Cocoon. 

Aviva has invested in Cocoon which has developed a smart home security device. Ben and Colin discuss the relationship between the two companies and what start ups and large corporates can learn from each other.

https://www.aviva.com/about-us/aviva-worldwide/aviva-ventures/
https://cocoon.life/

What do investing & dating have in common?

Release date: 3 October 2017

How much have you got in your pension? How many pensions have you got?

Don't know? Well you're not alone. 

But help is coming in the form of the pension dashboard. By 2019 we should be able to log into a platform and see all, or most, of our pension savings in one place.

In this podcast, you can hear from Yvonne Braun, Director of Policy for Long-Term Savings & Protection at the Association of British Insurers, and John Lawson, Head of Financial Research at Aviva.

They discuss where we are with the dashboard, who is and isn't involved at the moment and why the dashboard could help people become a lot more interested in how much they have in their pension.

https://pensionsdashboardproject.uk/industry/how-to-get-involved/

https://www.aviva.com/responsible-sustainable-business/our-stories/pension-dashboard-uk/

How much have you got in your pension?

There are now almost 10 million people aged over 50 in work in the UK, and that represents almost a third of the workforce. There are also more than a million over 65s still working. That’s up by a third in the past six years.

In this podcast we look at why this is happening and whether people want to work, or feel forced to work.

We also visit a 4 year old's birthday party and hear from a TV star, of sorts.

You can read Aviva's Real Retirement Report here: https://www.aviva.com/media/news/item/retirement-plans-at-risk-almost-2-million-older-workers-juggle-supporting-family-with-own-financial-future-17826/

Retirement, kids parties & Casualty

In April 2018, minimum contributions into workplace pensions will rise for the first time. Millions of employees and hundreds of thousands of employers will be affected.

In this podcast, Alistair McQueen, Head of Savings and Retirement from Aviva, talks us through why it's happening.

For more information on auto-enrolment and workplace pensions visit

https://www.aviva.com/newsroom/news-releases/2018/03/auto-enrolment-pension-contributions-could-grow-by-30percent/

https://www.retirementtools.aviva.co.uk/myfuture/ShapeMyFuture/LandingPagehttp://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/individuals.aspx

Doing Nothing Pays

Technology is revolutionising sport and rugby is no exception. Drones, video replays and real-time player stats are just a few of the ways tech has changed the way the game is played.

To find out more about the impact technology is having on rugby, the Aviva Podcast caught up with four of the top coaches in the Aviva Premiership:

Rob Baxter - Director of Rugby at Exeter Chiefs
David Young - Director of Rugby at Wasps
Matt O'Connor - Head Coach at Leicester Tigers
Mark McCall - Director of Rugby at Saracens

www.aviva.co.uk/sponsorship/
www.premiershiprugby.com/

How has technology changed rugby - The coaches view

Making an insurance claim is never normally good news. But insurers are trying to lessen the pain by making the process as easy as possible. In this podcast find out about the innovation work going on at Aviva which is allowing customers to make a claim the way that suits them best.

To read more about claims visit https://www.aviva.com/newsroom/news-releases/2019/04/from-amorous-horses-to-blundering-burglars/

The 21st Century Insurance Claim

Is insurance fraud a victimless crime? In this podcast we take a look at the level of fraud that happens in the insurance industry and the impact it has.

You can read more about insurance fraud here https://bit.ly/2JeaRCX

To see the 'slip and trip' video, visit the Metro website https://bit.ly/2KGGk4a

Photo by Karl Bewick on Unsplash

A victimless crime?

The 'sandwich generation' is the term used for those people who are simultaneously caring for their children and their ageing parents.

Research from Aviva has found there are around four million people in the UK in this situation and almost half of them say they have less than 35 minutes a day to themselves.

In this podcast you can hear the experiences of two people who are part of the 'sandwich generation' and how it has impacted their lives.

You can read more about Aviva's research here -

https://www.aviva.com/newsroom/news-releases/2019/04/half-of-sandwich-adults-have-under-35-minutes-a-day-to-themselves/

Just 35 minutes to yourself

If you save money, you are an investor. But do you know how and where your money is being invested? In this podcast, we look at ESG (environmental, social, governance) and ethical investing to find out how your savings can change the world.

Read more about Aviva's Stewardship workplace pension strategy https://bit.ly/2KYLrwD

https://www.aviva.co.uk/business/business-perspectives/
https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/aviva-workplace/
https://twitter.com/AvivaBusiness

Change the world with your pension

Quantum is Aviva's data science practice, led by Dr Orlando Machado. Quantum have partnered the University of Cambridge, collaborating with some of their best minds on a variety of research projects. In this episode you can meet Orlando, find out more about Quantum, and have an introduction to the work they're doing to make an impact on Aviva’s customers and broader society.

Quantum Ep1 - Dr Orlando Machado will see you now

Quantum is Aviva's data science practice, led by Dr Orlando Machado. Quantum has partnered the University of Cambridge, collaborating with some of their best minds on a variety of research projects. In this episode you can meet PHD student Helena Gellersen who is trying to answer, can data help us to better understand which factors influence the onset of dementia?

Quantum Ep2 - Can data predict dementia?

Join Danny Harmer, Aviva Chief People Officer, in conversation with James Millar, journalist at Working Dads and author of the book Dads Don't Babysit. 

What can employees expect when it comes to flexible working now that Covid-19 has changed the game?

Flexible working: what workers want

Alistair McQueen, head of savings and retirement at Aviva, and Dr Anna Dixon, CEO of the Centre for Ageing Better, examine the challenges and opportunities associated with longer lives and shifting expectations of retirement.

Search for the Mid-Life MOT app on the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.

Anna Dixon: https://www.ageing-better.org.uk/about-us/our-team/anna-dixon
Centre for Ageing Better: https://www.ageing-better.org.uk

Read our release about mid-life and retirement on aviva.com: https://www.aviva.com/newsroom/news-releases/2020/10/over-half-of-mid-lifers-have-never-calculated-when-they-can-afford-to-retire/

Retirement in the time of Coronavirus

In this episode, we talk to six of our Aviva Communities co-chairs to find out how they're working towards making Aviva a more inclusive organisation.

Recorded late last year, we wanted to find out what their communities have achieved, what made them want to volunteer to be a co-chair, and to give them and their communities a little bit of time in the spotlight.

Our Aviva Communities are:

AvivAbility – supporting people with visible and invisible disabilities 
Aviva Balance – for gender parity
Aviva Carers – helping carers and parents
Aviva Generations – for workers of all ages
Aviva Origins – celebrating cultural difference, including Race, Ethnicity, religious belief and Social Mobility
Aviva Pride – being yourself at work, LGBT

Learn more about our Aviva communities: https://www.aviva.com/about-us/aviva-communities/

Learn more about diversity and inclusion at Aviva: https://www.aviva.com/about-us/diversity-and-inclusion/

A transcript of this podcast is available on aviva.com

Aviva Communities: building a more inclusive organisation

One year on from when we started hearing about Covid-19, we speak to John Bernard, Aviva's Director of Group Corporate Security. He's led Aviva's response to the pandemic since the very start and was integral in the decision to send home 16,000 Aviva employees in UK.

Find out when he first heard about the outbreak, when he realised this was going to be serious and what his hopes are for 2021.

You can find a transcript for this episode on our website: https://www.aviva.com/newsroom/podcasts/covid-19-the-man-who-sent-everyone-home/

Covid 19: The man who sent everyone home

At Aviva, we are with you today for a better tomorrow.

Aviva

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