Ecclesiastical Insurance Group has been shortlisted for the Insurance Company of the Year prize at the Better Society Awards.

Gloucester-based specialist insurer Ecclesiastical won the Insurance Company of the Year accolade last year, while its business division Ansvar took the award in 2015.

As well as being a finalist for this year's Insurance Company of the Year award, Ecclesiastical has also been shortlisted in the Best Scheme to Encourage Staff Fundraising category for the second successive year.

As a commercial company with a charitable purpose, Ecclesiastical marked a major milestone in March 2016 when it celebrated hitting its target of donating £50million to good causes in three years.

The company's next ambition is to donate a further £100million by 2020.

As well as match funding all payroll giving, Ecclesiastical matches staff fundraising efforts and gives every employee a £125 personal grant, which can be given to any charity.

Together, these initiatives raised nearly £250,000 in 2016.

Over 60 per cent of employees gave their time volunteering too. In 2016, more than 1,000 volunteering hours helped Ecclesiastical's charity partner, the Nelson Trust, to completely refurbish its Treatment Centre in Brimscombe, Stroud.

David Britton, charity director for Ecclesiastical, said: "Being nominated for these awards is recognition that the charity sector sees us as much more than just an insurance company.

"We pride ourselves on going the extra mile for our charity customers, from the way we handle claims to sharing our risk management expertise.

"These nominations also reflect our commitment to contributing to the greater good of society through charitable giving and the fantastic contribution made by our staff."

Having helped to protect not-for-profit organisations for 130 years, Ecclesiastical now insures around 40,000 UK charities, support groups and communities, providing expert advice on areas including risk management, health and safety, running events and using volunteers.

It also advises some of the sector's key representatives, including the Charity Finance Group (CFG), the Honorary Treasurers' Forum (HTF) and New Philanthropy Capital (NPS).

When the Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice in Cheltenham suffered significant damage during flash flooding in June 2016, everyone worked around the clock to dry out the building and specialist teams installed new flooring, fixtures and fittings.

Hospice patients were able to move back in after only three weeks.

Now in their third year, the Better Society Awards, hosted by the Better Society Network, are the showcase for excellence that celebrate the efforts that commercial companies make in order to help create a better society.

The Better Society Awards are unique in rewarding companies that give time and expertise freely and those that have made a commitment to improving practices.

The winners will be determined by an independent judging panel and announced at the Better Society Awards on 11 May at the London Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square.

Picture: Ecclesiastical staff volunteering at The Old School, Brimscombe, helping to renovate the Nelson Trust's Treatment Centre