As we say goodbye to another incredible year at Alchemy Technology Services, we reflect on transformative growth and achievements that highlight the value we bring to our clients. Let’s look back on some key moments and successes that have shaped our journey to an even brighter future—for our clients and people.
A Year of Acknowledgement Internationally and Regionally
This year was one of significant recognition for our commitment to excellence, diversity, and innovation.
King’s Award for International Trade
We were honoured to receive the prestigious King’s Award for International Trade, celebrating our dedication to excellence. The achievement was marked by celebrations at Windsor Castle with King Charles and at 10 Downing Street with the Prime Minister.
Silver Diversity Mark Accreditation
Achieving the Silver Diversity Mark was a proud milestone for us, reflecting our commitment to workplace diversity and inclusion. This achievement proved that we have met our diversity targets and plan to achieve even more ambitious goals in the coming year.
Business of the Year & Creative Workplace at the Arts and Business NI Awards
We were thrilled to win both the Business of the Year and Creative Workplace awards, in collaboration with The Playhouse, at the Arts & Business NI Awards. These awards acknowledge our dedication to creativity and community engagement.
Award Recognition of our People
We were proud to see Mimi Munchetty, our Senior Delivery Director, shortlisted for Team Leader of the Year at the Women in Insurance Awards 2024, recognising her impact, leadership, and client results. We were also thrilled for Enya O'Doherty, Marketing Assistant, who was also shortlisted for Outstanding Apprentice at the Women in Business NI Awards for her innovation and embrace of technology.
Strengthening Collaboration Between our London and Derry/Londonderry Teams
This year, we have celebrated the first anniversary of integrating Alchemy London Market into our operations.
Together, we provide end-to-end project delivery solutions that integrate business expertise with technical insight, enhancing our capabilities to deliver greater value to clients. The integration has reinforced ties between our teams in London and Derry/Londonderry, reaffirming our commitment to bridging these two regions and facilitating further socio-economic growth. This regional collaboration enhances productivity, fosters innovation, and strengthens relationships.
Thought Leadership in Digital Transformation
Throughout 2024, we have been at the forefront of digital transformation in the insurance industry, providing insights and solutions to address evolving challenges. From exploring best practices for project delivery in our Excellence in Execution report to launching our first podcast, 2024 has been a year of growth and reflection.
Excellence in Execution: Your Roadmap to Insurtech Success
In our Excellence in Execution report, we explored how to avoid common pitfalls, harness innovative methodologies, and deliver measurable business value through exceptional project execution. This theme was further highlighted in our newly launched podcast series. Our debut podcast episode, "Excellence in Execution: Exploring the People and Cultural Side of Digital Transformation," delved into preparing for large-scale change, transitioning from legacy systems, and embracing a future-focused approach. Hosted by Caroline Bedford, CEO of EDII, our Alchemy Executive Team shared invaluable insights based on decades of industry experience for insurers navigating implementation projects and provided practical advice.
Agility in Action: How Alchemy’s Unique Approach Drives Excellence in Execution
In our ‘Agility in Action’ blog, we showcased how we bring agility to life, transforming the insurance industry. We highlighted how our approach empowers insurers to tackle the challenges of digital transformation, regulatory compliance, and evolving customer expectations with exceptional speed and flexibility.
Plugging the Business Analysis Gap
In our ‘Plugging the Business Analysis (BA) Gap’ blog series, we examined how modern business analysts are breaking silos, driving efficiencies, and bridging the gap between business needs and technical solutions, transforming traditional roles.
These spotlights highlighted valuable insights from our team members. Emma Nugent, Business Analyst, shared her journey since joining Alchemy, detailing her transition into the Business Analyst role, her experience in the American insurance market, and her growing expertise in policy administration systems. Rory McFeely reflected on his decision to transition into BA and his efforts to push boundaries, elevating the role of the Business Analyst.
Expert Insights Driving Leadership and Transformation
Our team's expertise has been central to understanding client needs and delivering cutting-edge solutions. This year, we spotlighted some of our experts who shared valuable insights.
Conor McCormick, our Head of Technical Architecture, shared his vision for the future at Alchemy, including establishing an architectural practice group to strengthen and expand Alchemy’s intellectual property.
Shannon Dolan, Technical Lead, showcased her innovative work with one of our clients, developing a framework that enhances data accuracy and fraud prevention by seamlessly connecting car insurance systems to the UK’s regulatory central database.
Amechi Peirce-Howe, Head of Global Speciality, shared his insights on leadership and the ongoing modernisation of the London Market, reflecting on the pivotal role Alchemy, along with Alchemy London Market, plays in driving digital transformation.
Jo Flint, Chief Operating Officer, showcased her strategic guidance by addressing key challenges in the insurance sector, adapting to dynamic industry trends with a people-first approach and fuelling her commitment to championing diversity and empowering women within the insurance sector.
Building Lasting Partnerships
This year, we focused on expanding our partnerships to bring exceptional expertise and transformative solutions to our clients' transformation journeys. We were thrilled to welcome NTT Data UK&I into our growing network of partners. These new alliances enable us to deliver unmatched, end-to-end solutions, offer strong alternatives to existing market options, and further enhance our service offerings and reach.
Throughout the year, we strengthened our partnership with Guidewire as a Consulting Select Partner, working closely with Guidewire, its clients, and other system integrators (SIs) to deliver high-quality projects on time and within budget, leveraging our global expertise. As a proud sponsoring partner of Guidewire Connection 2024, held on November 17th–20th, our team attended the conference in Nashville, USA. Centred on the theme ‘Agility in Action,’ we had the opportunity to showcase how we accelerate transformation, optimise costs, and adapt systems to align with business goals, embodying agility in action. The conference provided a platform for our team to showcase our expertise, engage in meaningful discussions, and collaborate with other insurance professionals.
Client Impact: Delivering Results and Excellence
This year, we have continued supporting our clients' digital transformation journeys, from sunsetting legacy systems to expanding capabilities through digitisation and driving global cloud adaptation. These projects reflect the evolving needs of the insurance industry, and we are proud to have helped clients confidently navigate these shifts.
As a Guidewire Consulting Partner, we exceeded the typical system integrator role. Working closely with Guidewire to develop and design solutions using the Jutro Digital Platform (JDP), we are shaping tailored digital experiences for insurers across EMEA.
By delivering practical results and measurable outcomes with some case studies shared below, we have solidified our role as a trusted partner for insurers navigating transformation. As the industry evolves, we remain committed to forging partnerships that deliver real results and create lasting value.
Delivering a Guidewire V10 Upgrade and AWS Migration to Transform an Insurer’s Business Operations
We helped a motor vehicle insurance provider by creating a resource and project framework, along with a code branch and merge strategy. This led to a 13% reduction in infrastructure costs, improved system stability, and a 605% increase in quoting efficiency.
By implementing an 'Iterative' and 'Agile' approach, we improved an insurance provider’s data migration strategy. Over ten months, we successfully migrated 44k policies, 180k claims, and 20M documents, reducing operational risks and IT costs through the decommissioning of legacy systems. This collaboration highlighted the value of strategic partnerships in driving efficiency.
Transforming Insurance: A Strategic Partnership for Global Success with Guidewire Solutions
Drawing on our deep expertise in Guidewire and the insurance sector, we supported an insurer in enhancing its internal Guidewire capabilities across more than 10 countries. We developed a customised business strategy that fast-tracked their progress. Through a partnership built on shared values, we established a 3-year plan to grow their internal team and strengthen their global Guidewire strategy.
Nurturing Future Talent
2024 marked the third year of our in-house Graduate Programme. We welcomed Cohort 3, who have now completed their training and moved into bootcamp, while also launching our search for future talent. Through career fairs and classroom talks at Ulster University, Queen's University Belfast, and Atlantic Technological University, we connected with exceptional students who share our passion for technology. Our Alchemy Open Night was a highlight, where students experienced our culture firsthand and met our team. As we expand our global client partnerships, we are proud to be growing our 2025 graduate intake - creating more opportunities for bright minds to transform the insurance landscape with us.
First Tenant of Ebrington Plaza in Derry/Londonderry
A major highlight of our year has been the confirmation of our office move to Ebrington Plaza in Derry/Londonderry. As the first tenants of this multi-million-pound investment, we are thrilled to have chosen a location that will support our ongoing expansion and provide an outstanding work environment for our team.
Community, Education, and Diversity Impact
For another year, we continued to foster an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and respected. By challenging biases, amplifying diverse voices, and promoting accessibility, we strived to attract and retain a wide range of talent, enriching our organisation and the wider community.
This year, we have taken significant steps to advance our diversity strategy:
Promoting LGBTQ+ Inclusion: Our Alchemy Community and Allies group launched initiatives encouraging allyship, including participating in the Belfast Pride parade, reflecting our commitment to a supportive environment for all.
Advocating for Women in Technology: Our team actively engaged in Women in Tech events, sharing insights and experiences to inspire future leaders and promote gender diversity in the tech industry. We continued our partnerships with schools and initiatives like Generation Innovation, directly engaging with young people to spark curiosity and encourage them to explore diverse career paths in technology.
Supporting Neurodiversity and Broader Diversity Initiatives: In alignment with our 'Inclusion at Alchemy' strategy, we have set specific targets to support the neurodiverse community within our workplace. We have launched initiatives to raise awareness about inclusive language and created supportive networks, ensuring everyone can bring their authentic selves to work
Our commitment to the wider community was reflected in our ongoing community engagement and charitable activities. While these efforts stem from our broader commitment to social responsibility, they complement our diversity objectives by strengthening community ties. Our annual Golf Day at Portstewart Golf Club raised funds for the Mary Peters Trust, supporting young athletes in reaching their full potential. Similarly, the Alchemy Cup returned for another successful year, raising crucial funds for HURT, a charity providing essential services within our community.
Looking Forward to 2025
As we embrace 2025, we are excited to springboard from a successful year. We focus on delivering exceptional value to our clients by deepening our collaborations and partnerships to offer even more comprehensive solutions tailored to the insurance sector's evolving needs. This includes pushing forward in the European rollout of a Guidewire solution, building on our newly established partnership with NTT Data, and expanding our footprint with US opportunities. We remain committed to nurturing talent, fostering a diverse, inclusive workplace, and welcoming new graduates and experts into our expanding team. Our larger office will support this growth, providing an inspiring environment where everyone can thrive. Our diversity initiatives will continue to be a core part of our culture as we strive to create an environment where everyone can thrive.
A Heartfelt Thank You
We sincerely thank our clients, partners, and team members for their support throughout this transformative year. Your trust and collaboration have been instrumental in our success. Together, we have navigated challenges, celebrated achievements, and set the foundation for continued growth and innovation.