On Tuesday 8 September, more than 130 colleagues, charity partners and industry guests came together at the Lloyd’s building for the 2026 Velonetic Recognising Brilliance Awards.
Held on the 11th floor at Lloyd’s, the evening celebrated the individuals and teams whose contributions shape Velonetic every day and help deliver the services our customers and the wider London Market rely upon.
It was a chance to recognise not only outstanding achievement, but the care, commitment and collaboration that sit behind the services our customers rely on and that help keep critical London Market operations running smoothly every single day.
Chosen by our people, for our people
What makes the Recognising Brilliance Awards particularly special is that the nominations come from colleagues themselves.
Across operations and non-operations teams, colleagues nominated those who had inspired them, supported others, delivered exceptional results, demonstrated leadership, embraced innovation or gone above and beyond. Each nomination was a meaningful thank you and a recognition of the positive impact colleagues make every day, whether supporting teammates, delivering excellent work or going above and beyond for others.
This year's awards featured individual and team categories spanning customer service, leadership, collaboration, innovation and business delivery, alongside a new Honours section introduced to recognise individuals whose contribution has been so significant that they warranted categories of their own.
To ensure a fair and independent process, nominations were assessed by a panel of respected judges from across the London Market, representing organisations including Lloyd's, the International Underwriting Association (IUA), the London & International Insurance Brokers' Association (LIIBA), the London Market Association (LMA) and Velonetic.
A celebration of expertise, dedication and impact
The evening began with a welcome reception, giving colleagues the opportunity to reconnect, meet guests and enjoy the atmosphere before the awards ceremony began. As the event unfolded, finalists and winners were recognised across categories that reflected the breadth of talent and achievement across the business.
From customer service excellence and innovation to leadership, collaboration and career achievement, each category reflected the qualities our colleagues bring to Velonetic every day: professionalism, curiosity, generosity, resilience and pride in doing things well. These qualities help create better experiences for customers while strengthening the services that underpin the London Market.
Hosted by Velonetic colleagues and supported by presenters from across the insurance market, including DXC, ACORD, the IUA and the LMA, the ceremony also reflected the strength of the relationships our people build across the wider market ecosystem.
"Recognising Brilliance is about celebrating the people who make Velonetic what it is.
This is a PEOPLE business enabled by TECHNOLOGY. Not the other way around.
I am extremely proud to be able to work alongside the 600 plus people in the UK and the 800 plus people in India who wake up everyday to serve the London Insurance Market.
At the end of the day, it is the people who make a business and we have the best…. so very proud to recognise the award nominees, and the winners, the best of the best of a very capable and dedicated team.”
Bob James, Velonetic CEO.
Marking a significant milestone
One of the evening's most memorable moments came during a special segment led by Paul Bastien, who reflected on the 25-year anniversary of XIS and XCS, a milestone that coincides with his own 25 years with the business.
Sharing stories and reflections from across a quarter-century of change and growth, Paul highlighted the people who have shaped the business and the enduring importance of expertise, commitment and collaboration.
Supporting Blood Cancer UK
Alongside recognising excellence across the business, the evening also provided an opportunity to support Velonetic's charity partner, Blood Cancer UK.
Guests participated in a fundraising raffle featuring a range of prizes, helping to raise funds for the charity. Funds raised will support the Matthew Wilson Multiple Myeloma Fund, funding life-saving research and providing support to people affected by blood cancer and their families.
The generosity shown throughout the evening reflected Velonetic’s commitment to making a positive impact beyond the business and demonstrated the power of our people coming together for an important cause.
More than an awards ceremony
While the awards ceremony was the centrepiece, the celebrations extended throughout the day and brought a real buzz to the office. For many colleagues, the event was as much about connection and community as it was about recognition.
As a virtual-first business, many of our colleagues work remotely for much of the time, so seeing the office full of people reconnecting, meeting colleagues face-to-face and enjoying the opportunity to spend time together in person felt particularly special.
Colleagues travelled from across the UK to reconnect, spend time with their teams and join a tour of the Lloyd’s building, creating the strong sense of togetherness and family feel that so many colleagues say makes Velonetic special.
Together, we achieve great things
The Recognising Brilliance Awards are ultimately about our people: the colleagues whose talent, care and commitment shape our culture and make Velonetic a great place to work.
Every finalist, nominee and winner should feel incredibly proud. Their professionalism, commitment and expertise help define who we are as a business and contribute to the trusted services, operational excellence and market support Velonetic is known for.
Thank you to everyone who made the evening possible, including our nominees, finalists, winners, judges, presenters, volunteers, charity partners and guests.
Most importantly, thank you to our people. Your talent, commitment and care are what make Velonetic successful. Every day, your expertise supports our customers, strengthens the London Market and helps keep the market moving.
