News

High-level negotiations have culminated in Coversure being appointed as insurance providers to the National Hairdressers Federation (NHF).

Formed in 1942, the NHF is the largest organisation representing salon owners in the UK with over 6000 members who between them own over 10,000 salons. The NHF is open to all salon owners and self employed hairdressers and beauticians working within a salon.

Since the 1st April 2005 a dedicated affinity division located at Coversure’s Huntingdon Head Office has provided a complete outsourcing service to the NHF giving members access to a full suite of insurance products approved by the Federation.

Commenting on the arrangement, Ray Seymour, General Secretary of the National Hairdressers Federation said, “We are delighted with this new arrangement which will provide a professional service to our members and allow us the freedom to concentrate on our core activities.”

Mike Stephenson, Head Of Commercial Operations at Coversure stated, “We are very pleased to be associated with the NHF, this new partnership is an exciting prospect with huge potential for both parties. The expansion of our affinity business will also increase our profile within the industry which will be beneficial to all group activities.”

Salon and liability products will be underwritten by Royal & Sun Alliance who have held the NHF account for some years and Paul Horsely, Sales and Marketing Manager for R&SA commented, “We have a long established relationship with the National Hairdressers Federation and we welcome the opportunity to work with the Coversure Group on it’s future development”.

With the recent reports in the media about the rising costs of running a car, nationwide insurance group, Coversure Insurance Services, has announced that over the last 12 months they have managed to reduce motoring costs for their customers.

According to a report provided by software house, Datamatters Ltd, the average price paid for car insurance by a Coversure client this year is £388, which is over 5% cheaper compared to this time last year . This announcement comes at a time when the public is protesting about the rising fuel prices which is soaring to nearly £5 a gallon and the affect this is having on the overall cost of running a car.

Coversure’s Agency Director, Nick Hollands explains that, “We are really pleased with the latest findings by Datamatters especially at a time when the public are unhappy about the ever increasing motoring costs.”

“We have worked extremely hard over the last year trying to reduce the cost of motor insurance for our customers and we are really happy that they can now start reaping the benefits. Although there is little we can do about the high fuel costs we hope this saving will take some of the financial pressure associated with running a car away from our customers,” said Nick.

He added “With a large number of insurance companies transferring their telesales to call centres overseas to remain competitive in the marketplace, these figures show that Coversure is once againbucking the trend and proving that the high street broker is still very competitive in the motor insurance market.”

After successfully recording their one-millionth minute of telephone calls this week, local insurance broker, Coversure Insurance Services, claim that the public still prefer to speak with local people when it comes to arranging their insurance.

In the current market conditions, a large number of companies have closed their local offices and transferred to call centres outside the UK raising fears about the safety of British jobs. Low wages are one reason for this decision as most companies pay between half and a third as much as they would pay for the same services in the United Kingdom.

Large insurance companies are also following the current trend and are gradually moving their telephone enquiries and telesales operations overseas, as they believe that this is the only way they can remain competitive in the current marketplace.

Coversure Agency Director, Nick Hollands explains that, "despite this recent trend in the market, Coversure is an independent insurance intermediary that has built its success upon providing a local services to its customers and we still believe that the high street broker can remain competitive in today’s market and our recent achievement proves this.”

“Since December last year, our eighty three branches have recorded over one million minutes of telephone calls indicating that on average each office spends a staggering 2000 minutes a month on the phone talking to customers.”

“We are really pleased with achieving this unique milestone as it shows that despite what so many insurance companies have predicted the customer base that wants to deal locally is still out there and so are those who wish to serve them.“

Despite reports to the contrary in the national press and on television during the past few days local insurance broker Coversure Insurance Services is keen to re-assure customers that regulation of the general insurance industry by the Financial Services Authority will not result directly in price increases.

“The new regulatory regime, which began on 14 th January, will help customers to compare products on a like for like basis and ensure that they receive an even greater degree of protection than before” says Carole Burgess proprietor of Coversure’s office in Heywood, Greater Manchester.

“For Insurance Brokers like ourselves this means a great deal more work but I think customers will be impressed by the amount of useful information that they receive from us even if they simply require a quotation. We have no intention at all of increasing our prices as a result, although we have no control over the premiums charged by the Insurers themselves.

“The most noticeable change for customers will be that the less scrupulous brokers will eventually be weeded out and the industry will be stronger as a result. Our customers now have a number of options when it comes to buying insurance for their cars homes and businesses and it is important that they know who they are dealing with and where they are based, something that the new regulatory regime will address. They may think they are talking to their local supermarket but it is just as likely that they are talking to a call centre in India!

“Many Insurance Companies based in Greater Manchester have closed or, like CIS, are closing their local offices. It is important for some members of the public to be able to pay premiums in cash and pick up their insurance documentation there and then.

Local insurance brokers like Coversure are able to provide this service and the existence of FSA regulation helps to reassure customers that they are dealing with a firm every bit as professional as those with a higher profile and large advertising budget.