Plea to follow example of Sir Titus

David Kelly, head of QBE in the city, said local communities provide companies with customers and employees and need to thrive for businesses to be succ- essful.

In an interview to mark QBE’s sponsorship of the Yorkshire Post Excellence in Business Awards, he evoked the great Victorian philanthropist who created a model village for his workers.

The textiles tycoon built houses, a school, a church, a place for adult learning and a park on the outskirts of Bradford in a place that became known as Salt- aire.

“Things are very different now. That level of affluence is not there,” said Mr Kelly.

But businesses and communities can still benefit if directors try to “re-establish those qualities” personified by Sir Titus, he said.

Mr Kelly emphasised the importance of investing in young people who will grow up to become “the workforce of tomorrow”.

He said: “There is a national perception that there’s a section of youth that are disenfranchised and have nothing to look forward to and have no hope of prosperity in the future.

“Businesses in the community can create that and give that back by putting in the time and investment.”

QBE is sponsoring the Business Community Award, which honours the best examples of businesses working in the community to improve education and skills development.

The category was hotly contested but three companies emerged to make the shortlist; they are BAM Construction, KC and NG Bailey.

The winner will be announced at a glittering awards ceremony on November 1.

Mr Kelly spoke in favour of companies getting into less affluent areas and working alongside local and central government to provide another layer of support for people.

He said: “People send workforces for a day digging gardens.

“I’m not knocking these programmes, but they are very much one-offs and don’t really leave any lasting legacy.

“That’s what we need to find – something that will continue to provide benefit.”

QBE supports its employees in their community endeavours and matches any funds they raise for good causes, said Mr Kelly.

“QBE has always liked to be active in its local markets,” he added.

“We encourage staff to support local charities.”

The QBE Insurance Group is one of the top 20 insurers and reinsurers in the world measured by net income.

It is headquartered in Sydney, Australia.

Last year it launched the QBE Foundation to develop its corporate social responsibility programme.

QBE acquired the staff and renewal rates of Brit Insurance in the UK earlier this year. Mr Kelly said the integration is “pretty much complete”.

The Leeds office controls gross written premiums worth £60m, making it one of the larger commercial insurers in Yorkshire. It plans to double in size over the next three to five years.

The Leeds office writes insurance policies for businesses with turnover from £2m to £200m and employs around 80 staff.

Mr Kelly has been in insurance for 38 years; the industry has changed a lot.

“When I started, computers were still a pipedream.

“Emails and the internet were nowhere.

“The fundamentals of the business have not changed.

“It’s still about the calculated taking on of risks of the many and hopefully only paying out for the few.”