Turning to some positive developments in the industry in the past year, Timpson said it has been gratifying to see the profession get behind Gain, the not-for-profit group for Autism, Insurance, and Neurodiversity.
One in five people in the UK identify as being neurodivergent, living with conditions such as autism, dyslexia, ADHD or dyspraxia.
Timpson, a disability champion and a member of Gain’s steering committee, said momentum has been building in support of the Gain hub and that he has noticed the sector “taking a lead on improving support for neurodivergent colleagues and consumers”.
Busy year for the FCA
While economic conditions have been challenging this year, Timpson believes that the regulator has “to its credit” responded well to the cost-of-living challenges.
He noted that it did this while also tackling other matters like problems in the pre-paid funeral sector and issues with social media advertising of financial services.
Timpson also welcomed the fact that the regulator has positioned inclusion and diversity as “both an ESG and regulator issue” with the introduction of board diversity rules.
Timpson highlighted the launch of the Association of British Insurers ‘Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Blueprint’ as a “very welcome response to this”.
jane.matthews@ft.com
