A colleague with light coloured hair wearing a light blue shirt over a white t-shirt, smiling.

Leigh: Recognition through innovation

Leigh’s story is a testament to the power of innovation, collaboration and genuine recognition.

As a Technical Specialist in our Microsoft 365 team, Leigh’s role is all about making sure our colleagues get the most from our digital tools and infrastructure. Beyond technical expertise, it’s Leigh’s passion for helping others and being part of a supportive community that truly defined his career journey at Royal London.

With a background steeped in technology and a keen interest in game development outside work, Leigh’s a natural fit for the fast-paced, ever-evolving world of Microsoft 365. Day to day, Leigh helps test, secure and roll out new features, working side by side with teams across Royal London to tailor Microsoft’s powerful solutions to their needs. Making sure our colleagues stay up to date with the latest releases is a core part of his role, but it’s also about listening – understanding what each area of the business hopes to achieve and finding practical, cost-effective ways to make it happen. 

Leigh’s dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed. Whether it’s collaborating to solve problems, creating solutions to make work more efficient or supporting colleagues through his role in our Colleague Representative Forum, he’s empowered to make a difference. And he does.  

When our plans to rollout Microsoft Copilot were first announced, Leigh and a colleague spearheaded the initiative to prepare us and secure the company’s data for Copilot’s adoption. It was a journey that involved self-driven learning, planning and teamwork at every stage. 

Recognising efforts like these are woven into the fabric of our culture.  

At Royal London, values aren’t just words – they’re lived by everyone. Collaboration comes naturally, with colleagues at every level passionate about their work and always willing to help each other reach shared goals. Leigh describes our atmosphere as welcoming and friendly, making it easy to connect and work towards the best outcomes together, regardless of the team or project. 
“Royal London lives and breathes its values – it’s not just a box-ticking exercise. From our executive team to all our colleagues, everyone’s working together to support one another, make our workplace as inclusive as possible and achieve our common goals.”

Support from Royal London

Leigh was recognised at our annual ‘In the Spirit’ colleague recognition event, winning in our inaugural artificial intelligence (AI) award category for his contribution to AI advancements. Driven by a fascination with AI, Leigh devoted his personal time to research and test Copilot Studio and custom AI agents. His groundwork enabled a rapid test and learn phase, setting Royal London on the path to agentic AI adoption, now a leading topic in technology. Today, colleagues are actively using Copilot, empowering them to work smarter by freeing up their time from routine tasks so they can contribute more meaningfully. 

The event is the pinnacle of our annual recognition cycle. Our culture of recognition encourages everyone to nominate colleagues who have gone above and beyond throughout the year, with winners announced each quarter. Our executive team review our quarterly winners and shortlist them for a coveted invitation to our annual event where finalists have the chance to be crowned overall winner in their category. It’s a special event and raises the profile for everyone involved. 

Leigh’s journey shows that, at Royal London, recognition comes from a culture that celebrates achievement, supports growth and encourages colleagues to push boundaries for the benefit of all – it’s the mutual way. For those seeking a rewarding career where your contributions matter, Leigh’s story is an inspiring example of what’s possible. 

Recognition at Royal London

From informal thank‑yous and peer recognition, to formal awards and external accolades, we take time to celebrate progress and success together.

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