Questionnaire

Congratulations on being nominated in the 2025 COVER Women in Protection and Health Awards!

Now is your chance to help encourage other women to progress or take up a career in the protection or health insurance sector by telling us your unique story. 

To do this and progress to the next stage of the judging process you will need to complete a short questionnaire and submit it by COP Friday 24th January*.

Please note: a person can only enter a maximum of two categories. If you have been nominated in more than two categories please complete the questionnaire for your chosen two only.

The process is straightforward and can be completed online via the links below.

All information supplied is confidential and is not made public. 


ENTRY WRITING TIPS

COVER offers some tips on how to craft award entries that will the get attention of judges and show organisations or individuals in the best possible light.

>>> View the tips here.

Rising Star - Intermediary

Open to women at any level on the intermediary side of the protection, life and health insurance sector who have made a strong impact in a short space of time and are seen as most likely to progress further. Entries will be from those that have been in the industry less than 3 years (as of 31 December 2024) and candidates can be graduates, non-graduates, trainees or just upcoming female members of the industry.

Submission deadline: 24th January. Please note there will be no extensions.

Our judges will be looking for evidence of:

• Strong impact within respective role(s) since joining the sector

• Passion for driving improvements and introducing new ideas

• Ability to showcase achievements to date in industry and development goals

Inspirational Leader of the Year

Open to women at provider, intermediary, network, service/technology provider or consultancy level whose achievements in protection and health-related areas of UK financial services are raising the profile of our sector to whole new levels. Role-agnostic, this award is geared towards our industry’s leading female role models and mentors – those who have bent over backwards during their career to improve industry diversity from within, raise the standards of excellence across the industry, and improve access to protection and health insurance products across wider society.

Submission deadline: 24th January. Please note there will be no extensions.

Our judges will be looking for evidence of:

• Effective and innovative leadership strategies

• Empowering young and diverse talent

• Efforts to increase and promote industry diversity and inclusivity

Mentor of the Year

Open to men and women working within or for the protection, life and health space that are taking responsibility for developing and advancing the next generation of talent. How have you addressed your role as a mentor and developed an environment that is professional and inclusive? How has this manifested for your mentee(s)? What successes has your mentorship brought about?

Submission deadline: 24th January. Please note there will be no extensions.

Our judges will be looking for evidence of:

• Demonstrable examples of providing support to developing young talent

• Improving knowledge and expert standards both internally and to the wider industry

• New approaches to the traditional mentor/mentee relationship

Adviser of the Year sponsored by LV=

Open to women at any level in financial advice who have gone above and beyond to spread the value of financial and health protection far and wide over the past year. What battles have you overcome to succeed in the male-dominated world of financial advice? How has your gender helped you connect with your female client base to help improve access to insurance? Also open to employee benefits consultants and mortgage advisers, or any women in financial advice passionate about distributing financial and health protection products to their clients.

Submission deadline: 24th January. Please note there will be no extensions.

Our judges will be looking for evidence of:

• Exceptional customer service and outcomes

• Efforts to improve equality in access to financial advice

• Work to promote the benefits of protection and health insurance

Outstanding Contribution to Diversity & Inclusion

Open to all firms operating within or for the protection and health insurance sectors, whether at provider, intermediary, network, service/technology provider or consultant level. Which firm has gone above and beyond to champion diversity and inclusivity from within its organisation? This might include company approach to recruitment and processes in place to increase diversity within senior management positions; staff academies and training for new staff with diversity in mind; support groups, awareness campaigns and mentor training schemes, and the introduction of more flexible working practices and schemes that cater for different types of people and their personal situations.

Submission deadline: 24th January. Please note there will be no extensions.

Our judges will be looking for evidence of:

• Forward-thinking programmes that promote upward mobility

• Impactful and inclusive training and development strategies

• Positive statistics and/or progress on gender and diversity role splits/pay gaps

Diversity & Inclusion Champion of the Year

Open to men and women working within or for the financial and health protection sector who not only mentor women but who champion diversity and inclusivity within the wider industry. The recipient of this award will be a role model and leader, and someone who has used their position to help set up initiatives and spread positive messages aimed at achieving equality in the workplace and across the market

Submission deadline: 24th January. Please note there will be no extensions.

Our judges will be looking for evidence of:

• Demonstrable impact in improving diversity & inclusivity levels internally and externally

• Examples of promoting greater equality throughout the industry

• Launch and ownership of new, innovative initiatives

Outstanding Initiative of Support

Open to all firms operating within or for the protection and health insurance sectors, whether at provider, intermediary, network, service/technology provider or consultant level. Which firm has implemented a new initiative (between 31 December 2023 and 31 December 2024) to best support the health, wellbeing and welfare of female employees and colleagues? This might include initiatives to raise awareness of, train for and support women’s health, increase support for childcare and flexible working arrangements, promote diversity, inclusivity and equity, or increase education on access to financial wellbeing tools and support.

Submission deadline: 24th January. Please note there will be no extensions.

Our judges will be looking for evidence of:

  • Innovative and inclusive programmes that have a clear strategic foundation
  • Details of how the initiative has worked in both theory and practice
  • Evidence that the initiative has delivered clear, tangible results

Business Development Manager of the Year

Open to women at any level who are constantly developing and improving products, services and partnerships within the protection industry. What challenges have you overcome to become a successful member of a male-dominated industry and what projects are you particularly proud of. What has being a woman brought to you in your role?

Submission deadline: 24th January. Please note there will be no extensions.

Our judges will be looking for evidence of:

• Effective and innovative improvements to internal processes over the past 12 months

• Examples of strong thought leadership

• Details of improving conditions for intermediaries and developing relationships

Educator of the Year

Open to women at any level across the protection, life and health industry that are raising standards of education and knowledge across the sector. Who is taking it upon herself to create, provide and promote teaching materials that improve accessibility of knowledge for market participants – this could include videos, podcasts, social media campaigns, thought leadership articles, market commentary or mentorship work.

Submission deadline: 24th January. Please note there will be no extensions.

Our judges will be looking for evidence of:

• Innovative approaches to creating informative and engaging content

• Passion for improving quality of industry knowledge levels

• Statistics demonstrating the impact of your work

Outstanding Culture of Inclusivity

Open to all firms operating within or for the protection and health insurance sectors, whether at provider, intermediary or service/technology provider level. Which firm is creating a new level of company culture with diversity and inclusivity as a key pillar, incorporating considerations such as training and development opportunities, effective return-to-work/industry programmes, impactful health and wellbeing support, and empowering all staff with greater opportunities for career progression.

Submission deadline: 24th January. Please note there will be no extensions.

Our judges will be looking for evidence of:

• Introduction of effective new strategies to better support staff

• Innovative approaches to historic challenges

• Examples of growth and success stories from within

Unsung Hero - Intermediary

Open to women at any level on the intermediary side of the protection, life and health insurance industry who are hugely valued members of their team and well worthy of recognition. Not specific to a particular role, this award recognises where credit is due for working tirelessly to succeed in her field, while serving as a female role model.

Submission deadline: 24th January. Please note there will be no extensions.

Our judges will be looking for evidence of:

• Dedication to role responsibilities and willingness to go ‘above and beyond’

• Achievements that may often fly under the industry radar

• Efforts to raise profile of diversity and inclusivity in the industry

Woman of the Year – Technology

Open to women at any level leading the charge within life, protection and health insurance-related technology. We want to know how you have managed to succeed within such largely male-dominated arena, what you have done as a female role model in your field and why having women like you who specialise in technology is so important to the future of financial and health protection.

Submission deadline: 24th January. Please note there will be no extensions.

Our judges will be looking for evidence of:

• Innovations that are driving the industry forward through technology

• Efforts to improve diversity within the technology space

• Promotion of technology as a force of positive change among industry peers

Rising Star - Provider

Open to women at any level on the provider side of the protection, life and health sector who have made a strong impact in a short space of time and are seen as most likely to progress further. Entries will be from those that have been in the industry less than 3 years (as of 31 December 2024) and candidates can be graduates, non-graduates, trainees or just upcoming female members of the industry.

Submission deadline: 24th January. Please note there will be no extensions.

Our judges will be looking for evidence of:

• Strong impact within respective role(s) since joining the sector

• Passion for driving improvements and introducing new ideas

• Ability to showcase achievements to date in industry and development goals

Unsung Hero - Provider

Open to women at any level on the provider side of the protection, life and health insurance industry who are hugely valued members of their team and well worthy of recognition. Not specific to a particular role, this award recognises where credit is due for working tirelessly to succeed in her field, while serving as a female role model.

Submission deadline: 24th January. Please note there will be no extensions.

Our judges will be looking for evidence of:

• Dedication to role responsibilities and willingness to go ‘above and beyond’

• Achievements that may often fly under the industry radar

• Efforts to raise profile of diversity and inclusivity in the industry

Woman of the Year - Propositions

Open to women at any level involved with the development of protection and health-related protection products. What have you done to climb the industry ladder into a role that finds you building the future of life, protection and health insurance? Tell us why you are so passionate about this industry and how you are setting an example for other women to follow.

Submission deadline: 24th January. Please note there will be no extensions.

Our judges will be looking for evidence of:

• Input into proposition/policy innovation and development

• Impact on creating greater levels of consumer trust

• Demonstrable outcomes of your work

Woman of the Year - Underwriting

Open to female underwriters and actuaries of any level increasing access to insurance through their approach to policy wording. How have you helped to shape and define underwriting philosophies throughout your career? We want to know what you have done to set an example for others to follow and why the industry needs more underwriters like you.

Submission deadline: 24th January. Please note there will be no extensions.

Our judges will be looking for evidence of:

• Innovative approach to improving underwriting practises

• Efforts to improve access to insurance for more people

• Developing the next generation of underwriters

Woman of the Year - Customer Support

Open to women at any level within financial health and protection insurance who provides consistent, excellent customer care that makes a marked difference to advisers or consumers. How are you providing brilliant levels of customer service and support, and what challenges have you overcome to get to where you are today?

Submission deadline: 24th January. Please note there will be no extensions.

Our judges will be looking for evidence of:

• Exceptional examples of customer support in action

• Demonstrable outcomes of a customer-centric focus

• Work on raising standards to create better service levels at your firm/an industry level

Woman of the Year - Marketing

Open to women at any level in marketing roles who are working their socks off to close the protection gap. What campaigns have you worked on that have made a demonstrable difference? Which of these have been dedicated to communicating the value of protection and health protection products to women in particular? What role are you playing in helping address education gaps on protection or health insurance? How are you setting an example in the industry?

Submission deadline: 24th January. Please note there will be no extensions.

Our judges will be looking for evidence of:

• Innovation in creating and launching new marketing campaigns

• Impact of marketing outside the industry

• Work to reduce the advice and protection gaps through marketing

Woman of the Year - Claims

Open to women at any level in claims departments working within financial and health protection insurance. Tell us what you, as a woman, have brought to a role that relies so much on customer trust, timely assistance and sensitive support at a time of need. What do you do to go over and above to ensure that claims are handled impeccably and how does this make you a female role model in your area?

Submission deadline: 24th January. Please note there will be no extensions.

Our judges will be looking for evidence of:

• Efforts to improve claims processes

• Securing better results for policyholders

• Going above and beyond to create a customer-centric culture in claims

Woman of the Year - Intermediary Support

Open to women at any level within an insurer offering high-level support to advisers. How do you give personal, hands-on support to intermediaries – and therefore customers as a result – and what has you being a woman brought to the role? Real-life testimonies and evidence of practical examples are very welcome.

Submission deadline: 24th January. Please note there will be no extensions.

Our judges will be looking for evidence of:

• Specific examples of outstanding support for intermediaries over the past 12 months

• Evidence of innovative and effective communications for intermediaries

• Work towards raising standards of collaboration between insurers and intermediaries