Commercial Lines Case Studies

Sayers Insurance Services

Yorkshire based Sayers Insurance Services has traded from Rotherham since 1908 and further expands Swinton's network of commercial offices.

The business has grown somewhat since obtaining its first agency with the Provincial Insurance Company and is seen as an ideal fit with Swinton's commercial operation.

The directors of Sayers will remain with the business and continue to support its future development. David Porteous said, "We have always been very proud of our history so our focus was on finding a successor with whom we were confident could take the business forward. When speaking to Swinton we were impressed with their plans and felt they offered an exciting future."

Lawrence Insurance Group

Established 50 years ago, Lawrences was an independent commercial broker with a £6 million gross premium income. They specialised in providing commercial insurance for the SME market and advised on health and safety matters. The vendors, David Carey and Ian Walker, managed a team of 15 employees all of whom will continue to operate from Lawrence’s base in Sevenoaks.

David Carey of Lawrences said: “As a long standing broker in our region, we have a well established client base and our primary focus will be maintaining and developing our existing client relationships. Swinton will add further value for our existing and new clients because we’ll be able to utilise our shared expertise and knowledge.”

The Sevenoaks office was Swinton's 6th commercial base in their plans for a national UK commercial network.

Rockford Insurance Brokers

Trading from across the North of England in Horsforth, Huddersfield and Trawden, Rockford was established in 2001 by Allan Hardill and Leon Davidson and soon became a £15m premium income broker employing 50 staff.

Rockford developed a number of specialist markets within the motor trade, education and medical sectors in addition to their corporate commercial client base.

Allan Hardill said, "The directors will remain in place through the transition of the business and all of Rockford's staff will continue to work for the company which will trade under the Rockford name for the foreseeable future. It will remain business as usual for Rockford's existing clients. We hope the skills and expertise of the Rockford team will enable Swinton Commercial to become a major player in the corporate sector and we envisage a great future for our clients and staff."

andinsure

Specialists in Motor Trade Road risks, commercial insurance and “non-standard” personal lines. Previously known as Catterall Insurance Services, the company was sold in 2003 by the founder, Scott Catterall, to fellow director, Craig Fisher, who re-branded the business andinsure. The business trades from offices in Preston, Accrington, Milnthorpe in Cumbria and Barnt Green, Birmingham, with gross premium income of circa £8 million.

The owner of andinsure, Craig Fisher, said: “It was never my intention to sell the business only 5 years after buying it, but the offer put to me by Swinton was extremely beneficial to me personally, to the company and to it’s staff going forward. The andinsure team are now more secure and many of them now have career opportunities with Swinton that would not have been available under my ownership. ”

Vectis Insurance Services Ltd

A long established broker dealing primarily in commercial insurances run by the vendors Jerry Scrivens and Martin Ivory. With a gross premium income of £5 million Vectis has a staff of 23 across their two offices. The Cowes operation is now a Swinton Commercial regional office, retaining the Vectis brand whilst the Newport office is a new Swinton personal lines branch. All Vectis staff remained with the business with Martin Ivory overseeing its transfer whilst Jerry Scrivens chose to retire.