Travelling time capsule: preserving our legacy for future generations

Capturing the spirit of our people

We’re proud of our rich history, and we know that history is made by people. That’s why our Commercial Lines Women’s Network launched the ‘Travelling Time Capsule’ project, a unique initiative designed to preserve the stories, voices and experiences of our teams across the UK and Ireland.

The capsule has embarked on a journey from branch to branch, collecting contributions that reflect who we are today, allowing future generations of Aviva colleagues to understand and celebrate the legacy we’re building.
 

Why a time capsule?

While exploring our archives in Birmingham and Norwich, we uncovered fascinating glimpses into the lives of former employees - banjo players, female inspectors and even those who navigated the West Midlands city using the barge network. These stories were vibrant but incomplete, which sparked a question: what will future generations know about us?

In particular, the stories of women in the early 1900s are often missing due to limited records and societal norms of the time. We want to change that. This project is about visibility, inclusion and storytelling - making sure that the people shaping Aviva today, are remembered tomorrow.
 

What’s inside?

Each branch has been invited to contribute a unique snapshot of the present day to the time capsule. These contributions include written stories from colleagues, photographs, tales of office life, local landmarks, insights into the branch’s connection to its community and history and video interviews highlighting inspirational women within the team. Together, these elements will help paint a vivid picture of Aviva today for future generations to discover.
 

A journey across the UK and Ireland

The time capsule has been travelling our branches, starting in Northern Ireland then making its way through Scotland, the North of England, the Midlands, the South West and London, soon due to arrive at its final destination in Norwich.

The capsule will arrive in Norwich on 20th October, with a special presentation in Marble Hall during the first week of November. There, it'll be sealed and stored in our archives, not to be opened until 2075.

Keep an eye out for further updates as the time capsule continues it’s journey.

We’re excited to make history, and make sure it’s a story worth remembering.

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