As one of the largest independent insurance advisors for rural businesses, we are preparing for 2020 and the new decade in a positive position following continued expansion. Despite uncertain economic conditions exacerbated by Brexit, due to an increased demand for its specialist services, the business has grown and evolved, staff numbers increase and significant investments have been made. This has largely been as a result of its strong focus on customer support and its very tailored levels of service. In an industry where insurance companies and brokers are increasingly reducing customer support to a faceless call centre, H&H Insurance Brokers has embraced the opposite approach ensuring there is always a dedicated team to handle claims, questions and queries both over the phone or face-to-face.
Ensuring that customers have access to the best support and advice at all times remains a key priority. Continuous investment in its team and processes has been of paramount importance this year and as a result, the business has increased its workforce numbers by over 10% to meet its ever-increasing demand for specialist insurance and after-care services. This includes a claims handler, new commercial account executive and an apprentice, with more recruitment ongoing for an apprentice in Wales and additional account executives.
The company has also gone one step further to integrate a dedicated claims department within the existing team because when things go wrong, clients need to be assured that there is support out there so that claims are settled swiftly and painlessly.
Commenting on this strong business performance throughout 2019, Paul Graham, Managing Director, said: “This has been an extremely good year for H&H Insurance Brokers in terms of performance and customer satisfaction. Despite the economic climate being against us in many ways, we have overcome tumultuous times to offer our clients the best in insurance brokerage as well as support services, and have seen an increase in requests for Smallholder Protect and Rural Protect insurance products.
“I am extremely proud of the team that underpins this and look forward to 2020 in terms of further expansion both across the country as well as offering new services. We will continue to focus on niche markets for rural insurance services as this has delivered us a competitive advantage that is already showing dividends.”
As well as staff support, a five-figure investment has also been made into a new operating systems to make processes more efficient and provide improvements to the way we communicate with clients. This has resulted in sales increasing 10% throughout the year with an 8% uplift in client levels.
An innovative service introduced this year aimed at helping farmers to adhere to current health and safety legislation, H&H Safety – Risk Management Made Easy – has led the way to develop this portfolio of ‘one-stop-shop’ health and safety service packages for the farming industry. This can be tailored to specific requirements, to any size of farm business and is delivered flexibly by a specialist team. It covers all areas of health and safety including practical training courses and helps businesses to develop policies and procedures.
Expansion into North Wales this year has also provided an Authorised Representative to support that area as well as an opportunity to create a Welsh brand to cover Wales, Shropshire and Cheshire. This in itself has increased geographical spread significantly, as well as adding welsh language support to a large rural area.
As the insurance area of the business, its brand, customer service and reputation go from strength-to-strength, H&H Insurance Brokers will continue to look for additional opportunities and build upon existing services, to ensure that clients have the access to the most appropriate insurance for their individual needs.
H&H Insurance Brokers is part of H&H Group plc and is well respected in the rural community and offers independent advice on all aspects of rural and business insurances throughout the North of England, Scottish Borders, North Wales and Cheshire. They arrange a broad portfolio of insurances for farmers, agricultural contractors and many other businesses based within the countryside.