Auckland-based insurance start-up Cove has been awarded the Rainbow Tick, certifying the organisation is a welcoming and inclusive place for people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities.

Chief executive Andy Coon said it was important for the company to receive the Rainbow Tick while it was young, to ensure Cove was inclusive to the LGBTQI+ community in a proactive manner.

“Every single person is deserving of respect and a feeling of safety and wellbeing in the workplace, regardless of sexual orientation or gender.

“This endorsement is more than just a tick box. We want to support all members of our society and working with Rainbow Tick is a sign of our ongoing commitment to openly discuss how we can better serve the LGBTQI+ community.”

Cove is currently looking into how gender and identity is incorporated into the buying process, and whether such questions can be removed or altered to be more inclusive.

Rainbow Tick is a programme which evaluates a company’s LGBTQI+ inclusion in five core areas and provides evidence-based recommendations for change, along with resources and support for their implementation.

The programme looks at company policy, staff training, external engagement and monitoring, with the Rainbow Tick endorsement awarded once all the benchmarks have been met.

Others with the tick include Southern Cross Health Society, IAG and AMP.