The Standard Life Insurance Company of Great Britain was founded in 1825 Founded in 1825, Standard Life is headquartered in Edinburgh and has offices in 30 cities across the UK. With total assets of £65 billion, a market share of 6-7% and 10,000 employees including overseas companies, it is the second largest life insurer in the UK and the largest mutual insurer in Europe, as well as one of the few insurers in the world to have received the highest rating of AAA from Moody's and Standard & Poor's, two of the world's most authoritative credit rating agencies. --AAA rating.