Our Human Resources team play a very important role in the wellbeing, engagement and development of our colleagues at Hastings Direct. Our vision is to be the best and biggest digital insurance provider in the market and we recognise that our colleagues are fundamental to achieving this.
As such, we are always reviewing how we work to further enhance the colleague deal here at Hastings Direct, so colleagues are clear on the support they will get from the business as well as the role they play in its success. We work closely with all Leaders to help create an inclusive environment where everyone can truly bring their whole selves to work, but additionally, to ensure that we are all clear on our values and what they represent every day to our Colleagues, Customers, Community and Company.
Diversity plays a huge role in our plans, we know the benefits of a diverse workforce and are always looking to understand what more we can do to attract and support talented people who can bring different perspectives to Hastings Direct. Our HR team plays a vital role here, they help shape and evolve the colleague journey, develop and support our colleagues, promoting a working environment and culture where everyone feels empowered to voice their view.
We’re responsible for partnering each business area, understanding their specific needs, challenges and goals and translating this into a people strategy and tactical plan that embraces resourcing, development, talent and culture. We also design bespoke solutions to meet business challenges and ensure the department and leadership teams achieve targets and play a key role during periods of change and transformation.
In Shared Services, we manage all administration and payroll services through our external partners, supporting the business by managing our HR system, maintaining policies and providing up-to-date detailed data around our colleagues. Within Advisory we provide specialist HR services that help managers to understand and implement our policies and help them manage their teams effectively. We also provide people management and employee relations training and coaching for managers.
We’re the team responsible for bringing the Hastings Direct story to life. We ensure that our colleagues and other key stakeholders remain well informed of what the business is doing, so that they feel motivated to help us achieve our company objectives. We also manage our reputation both internally and externally, working with local and national media and external bodies to help positively raise and maintain our company profile.
We deal with all aspects of pay and benefits within the business. Much of our work is undertaken in conjunction with the HR Business Partners, but also involves extensive interaction with other departments such as Finance, Legal and Governance, and Compliance.
Our Talent team delivers solutions by developing high-performance teams and individuals and building our talent pipeline to support business growth.
Within Talent we have a number of teams:
Technical Recruitment and Training. Working with our customer facing operational colleagues, we attract and recruit, then train and develop, new colleagues for our Retail and Claims operational areas.
Professional and Support. Working with business leaders, we attract and introduce talented individuals into our professional and support areas.
Technical Learning Design. We develop and manage all of the training content for all our colleagues, including our Annual Mandatory Training Suite.
Talent and Leadership. We collaborate with our HR Business Partners and business leaders to help develop leaders and their teams. Creating an environment where colleagues can perform and deliver to their objectives.
Not all of our teams operate from all of our offices. Below you can see the offices in which these teams are based.
I was searching for a new role after returning from travelling and was referred to Hastings Direct by a friend. They mentioned it was a great place to work. They weren’t wrong! The company has a unique people focused culture. It's a place where the leaders are in touch with colleagues, as well as business needs, plus there’s a genuine entrepreneurial feel. New ideas and initiatives to drive the business forward are welcomed and senior leaders across the business are accessible, which enables quick decision-making. It means that it’s an exciting place to work too. It never stands still and there’s never a dull moment!
I joined Hastings in November 2011 after a short career in the airline industry, and I’ve loved every step of the journey since. I started in Customer Service taking calls from our customers, before progressing into a leadership role and later moving into Employee Relations. Each step has helped me grow, learn and understand our people in a deeper way.
Today, I work in the Learning & Development team, supporting the design and delivery of leadership, talent and capability programmes that help colleagues build confidence, develop new skills and thrive in their careers. No two days are ever the same, and that’s what I enjoy most.Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working with so many passionate, supportive and forward‑thinking colleagues across Customer Service, HR and the wider business. Everyone is welcoming and genuinely committed to doing the right thing for our customers. I’m really proud to be part of the team and excited for what’s ahead.
I joined Hastings in 2025 and work in the team that helps colleagues learn, grow and build their careers. My role is varied, from supporting leadership development and onboarding to helping colleagues learn new skills and get the most from their careers at Hastings.
What I enjoy most is working with people across the business and seeing the impact development can have. Whether it's helping someone settle into a new role, build confidence or take their next career step, I love doing all I can to make a small difference and support them on their journey.
I love working at Hastings because we're ambitious and always looking ahead. We care about our people and invest in helping them grow, not just for the role they're doing today, but for where they want to go in the future. Everyone is supportive, willing to help and committed to doing the right thing, which makes it a great place to work and build a career.
I joined Hastings after relocating to the south coast. Starting as a Learning Designer, I’ve progressed to lead the Learning Design & Technology team, helping shape how colleagues learn, develop and build their careers across the organisation.
My career has taken me through higher education, widening participation, leadership development and insurance innovation. While the settings have been varied, a common thread has always been helping people learn, grow and succeed.
What I value most about Hastings is its culture. People genuinely show up as themselves, and that individuality is embraced. It’s also the first organisation I’ve worked in where an idea for doing something differently is met with encouragement rather than red tape. The response is usually, “what do you need to make it happen?” That mindset has made Hastings an exciting place to build a career and create meaningful change.
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