UNA Alliance

Recognising signs of struggling mental health in yourself or others is crucial to ensure timely support and intervention. Here are some warning signs to look out for within yourself or your colleagues, if you suspect poor mental health:

•  Frequent irritability or aggression: Uncharacteristic bursts of anger or irritability, often over minor issues, could be a sign of underlying emotional distress.
•  Increased feelings of nervousness or anxiety: Heightened levels of anxiety, excessive worrying, or feeling on edge without a clear reason may indicate mental health struggles.
•  Increased fatigue, poor sleep, or nightmares: Persistent fatigue, difficulty falling or staying asleep, or frequent nightmares can be linked to mental health challenges.
•  Feeling overwhelmed by everyday tasks or commitments: Feeling overwhelmed and finding it challenging to cope with daily responsibilities may indicate the need for support.
•  Unexplained weight loss or excessive weight gain: Significant changes in weight without a deliberate effort could be a reflection of emotional distress or mental health issues.
•  Lack of interest in personal appearance or hygiene: Neglecting personal grooming, appearance, or hygiene may be a sign of depression or other mental health concerns.

It's important to remember that experiencing one or a few of these signs doesn't necessarily mean someone is struggling with their mental health, as some of these symptoms can be linked to other factors as well. However, if you or someone you know is experiencing several of these indicators and they are causing significant distress or impairment in daily life, seeking professional help and support from mental health professionals is essential. It is important to encourage open conversations in the workplace about mental health and offer support to those who may be going through difficult times to ensure positive mental health is promoted.

In the latest of our series "All Together Better People", we meet Gareth Roberts of Sutton Winson.

Gareth has recently taken over the role of MD and also now stepped onto the UNA Board.

Gareth, tell us a bit about your career to date and how the world of insurance has altered since you started out?

I was very lucky to join Commercial Union Management Training Programme straight from school. I hung onto the coat tails of the graduate cohort and benefited from incredible training which included regular courses hosted around the UK.  By 24, I had moved from Cardiff to Bristol and landed in Maidstone as Senior Fleet and Accident U/W.  After a very enjoyable couple of years, I then moved into broking, attracted by providing advice to clients.

In my 37 years (ouch), the fundamentals of insurance have not changed. As experts we use our knowledge to build trust and respect between the insurer, broker and client. The broker expertise allows them to understand and assist the client to manage and mitigate their risks which are transposed into words, which an underwriter trusts to assess the correct premium and provide the appropriate cover. The biggest changes since I started are technology and geographical reach making it far easier to service clients out of your local area. The speed of communication is now immediate and whilst digital interaction works, the relationships are strengthened by personal interaction and spoken words!! AI will enhance our access to data and increase speed and efficiency but without knowledge and expertise the end customer will not receive advice to make the right decisions.

Last week, UNA was delighted to welcome its delegates from this year’s UNAversity Programme for their final session before graduating from their ILM Programme.

The UNA Introduction to Management Programme, is run in conjunction with Zing 365, UNA’s long- standing training partners and has recently celebrated its 10^th anniversary. 

As ever, this year’s intake comes from delegates from around the UNA Membership and is a mixture of online and in-person modules. 

The programme itself consists of 7 different modules spread over a 6 month period. Modules range from Communication Skills to Project Management, from Emotional Intelligence to Problem Solving and Decision Making.

One of the main benefits of the programme, is offering delegates the opportunity to meet and network with other candidates from across the UNA Member Companies; swapping learning experiences from those in similar roles and realising that you’re part of a much wider Alliance of like-minded organisations.

Next year’s programme will be kicking off at the end of September, when we look forward to welcoming our next cohort of delegates.

Having held our first UNA Board Meeting of the year, we were delighted to welcome a new UNA Board Member.

Gary Uren of SSR has recently taken over the helm from his colleague John Ludley, and here we learn more about his career in insurance....

 (Gary Uren pictured left, taking the baton from John Ludley)

Gary, tell us a bit about your career to date and how the world of insurance has altered since you started out? 

After being a bit all eggs in one basket trying to be a pro footballer, I started out in insurance in 1986 under the government training scheme at that time.  As my father bluntly put it, get out there and start earning some money.  Ironically, I was nearly doubling my insurance weekly wage of £27.50 playing amateur football every week at the time! 

UNA is delighted to report that it has once again been shortlisted for the prestigious Broker Innovation Awards.

The awards will be presented in September, when we will be seeking a hat-trick of wins in the Broker Network of the Year category.

Fingers crossed and congratulations to all involved!