Cornish Mutual has been awarded Chartered Insurer status from the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) for the sixth consecutive year.

Chartered status is only awarded to firms that meet the CII’s rigorous criteria relating to professionalism and capability. All Chartered Insurance firms commit to the CII’s Code of Ethics, reinforcing the highest standards of professional practice in their business dealings.

In 2012, Cornish Mutual became the first mutual insurance company in the UK and the first insurer in the South West to achieve Chartered status from the CII. The South West insurer now also boasts two Fellows and over 70 CII qualified employees amongst its teams.

An important requirement from the CII is for companies to evidence a high level of professional development and training. Cornish Mutual’s teams are based across Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset. Each individual is supported by a personal development plan, with a comprehensive programme of training and development. This begins with a rigorous four-week induction covering all aspects of the company and a grounding in insurance.

In January 2016, the company launched the Cornish Mutual Academy. This provides training and development opportunities right across the business, giving particular support to those studying for professional qualifications. Cornish Mutual also offers specialist training on topics ranging from mental health first aid, to accountancy and fraud detection. The company focuses on increasing employees’ agricultural knowledge by running interactive sessions on aspects of farming including livestock, machinery and robotic milking.

Over the last year, a number of individuals at Cornish Mutual have achieved professional qualifications. These include Member Services Advisor Arthur Denton becoming a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) and Technical Leader Claire Longman being named a Fellow of the CII.

Managing Director Alan Goddard said: “We are really proud to have achieved Chartered Insurer status for six consecutive years. It gives our Members the assurance that we adhere to the gold standard in professionalism, expertise and ethics.

“Our staff training programme has been a key factor in us maintaining Chartered status and this is something we take very seriously indeed. We have a firm commitment to the development of all our people, whatever their role. This not only benefits everyone who works for Cornish Mutual, by helping them enjoy a successful career with us, but also impacts on our Members, who receive the very best service from our highly skilled and committed teams.”