Philippa Pickering
Cosby,Leicester
Summary
Dedicated to enhancing employee well-being, with a focus on mental health support and neurodiversity. Established the Leicester Neurodiversity Support Group, earning recognition with a 'Big Thank You' award in 2026. Spearheaded the Managers Mental Health & Well-being Support Group, facilitating workshops on crisis management and boundaries. Qualified as a Mind Ally in 2025, actively promoting mental health services and delivering stress management sessions across Leicester and Bristol offices. Committed to fostering inclusive environments and supporting colleagues through innovative initiatives.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
3
3
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Service Support Team Manager
AXA Health
Leicester
2016.02 - Current
- Leading a team of 10 people, providing quotes and on-boarding services to brokers and direct customers.
- Responsible for supporting and developing my team to deliver the best levels of service for both internal and external customers.
- Maintaining best in the market status for turn-around times
- Establishing and developing excellent relationships with key stakeholders , working together to achieve challenging sales targets whilst maintaining excellent quality levels
Broker and Direct Sales Coach & Trainer
AXA Health
Leicester
2010.11 - 2016.02
- Working with direct and broker account managers to develop their sales skills over the phone through actively listening to their customers to ensure we were promoting a plan to meet their needs.
- Side by side live coaching
- Role play sessions
- Wrote and delivered regular group workshops & training sessions
- Working with some of our key brokers through external visits, creating and delivering training to enable them to effectively sell AXA Health products to their clients though active listening to needs and painting the picture to ensure their client understood how their needs would be met.
Direct Sales Team Manager
AXA Health
Leicester
2006.03 - 2009.10
- Leading a team of 12 direct sales agents to hit their monthly sales targets.
- Regular coaching and general support of each individual to help them reach their potential to deliver what was required and beyond
- Responsible for the overall team target for both sales and quality
Broker Sales Team Manager
AXA Health
Leicester
2002.05 - 2006.03
- Managing a combined team of account managers, administration and support agents
- Supporting account managers to reach sales targets
- Supporting administration and support team members to hit productivity and quality targets
- Responsible for overall sales, quality and productivity targets
Team Manager
Alliance & Leicester Bank (now Santander)
Leicester
1998.07 - 2002.05
- Leading a call centre team, supporting them to hit call volume and quality targets
Mortgage Customer Service Advisor
Alliance & Leicester (now Santander)
Leicester
1995.10 - 1998.07
- Working within a busy call centre environment
- Answering up to 50 calls per day from existing mortgage customers
Education
GCSEs -
Robert Smyth Upper School
Market Harborough, Leicestershire 1987.09 - 1989.06
A Levels -
Robert Smyth Upper School
Market Harborough, Leicestershire 1989.09 - 1991.06
Skills
Wellbeing
Over the past couple of years a key focus for my development has been employee well-being I have taken on additional roles to ensure that wellbeing s promoted and kept alive within our Leicester office and beyond Some of my key achievements have been:
- Leicester Neurodiversity Support Group
I started our local support group in January 2024, meeting monthly This group is always well attended, by colleagues mainly from Leicester, Bristol and Bournemouth, however anyone is welcome I have also supported other sites in the business to start their own groups I was thrilled to have been a 'Big Thank You' award winner in March 2026 when I was nominated for the work I do with this group
- Managers Mental Health & Well-being Support Group
Recognising a need for more support for people leaders, I created and chair a quarterly meeting for local people leaders, open to Leicester, Bristol and Bournemouth This is a safe space to share experiences, offer advice and generally support each other I have also written and delivered some workshops as a result of some of our discussions which include dealing with someone in crisis and boundaries
- Mind Ally
I qualified as a Mind Ally for Leicester in August 2025 I thoroughly enjoyed the training and have been committed to ensure I put the investment made in me to good use for Leicester I attended 10 team meetings for Leicester and Bristol colleagues to talk about the role and how I can support I held and session to promote AXA's Mental Health and Wellbeing services available to employees last year I have also written and delivered a session for a number of our Leicester and Bristol teams on the Stress Container I have supported a number of colleagues on a 1-1 basis over the past 8 months
Affiliations
- I'm a keen runner and a member of a Leicestershire based running club. find this great for my general wellbeing and I also compete in a local road and cross country league. I have won age category awards for a number of races in recent years.
Accomplishments
AXA UK & Ireland Big Thank You Award Winner
I was thrilled to be announced as one of the 12 winners for 2026, in the One AXA category. I was nominated for the work I have done with my local Neurodiversity support group, which has supported many people within the Leicester office and beyond.
Timeline
Service Support Team Manager
AXA Health
2016.02 - Current
Broker and Direct Sales Coach & Trainer
AXA Health
2010.11 - 2016.02
Direct Sales Team Manager
AXA Health
2006.03 - 2009.10
Broker Sales Team Manager
AXA Health
2002.05 - 2006.03
Team Manager
Alliance & Leicester Bank (now Santander)
1998.07 - 2002.05
Mortgage Customer Service Advisor
Alliance & Leicester (now Santander)
1995.10 - 1998.07
A Levels -
Robert Smyth Upper School
1989.09 - 1991.06
GCSEs -
Robert Smyth Upper School
1987.09 - 1989.06