Plan Insurance Brokers are honoured to be shortlisted for the Family Business of the Year Awards 2016 – recognising the UK’s family business sector and celebrating their diversity and contribution of family firms across the nation.

Hosted by Family Business United, an award-winning magazine and resource centre, the awards are now in their fourth year. Concluding at a Gala Reception and London based awards ceremony on June 2, the winners will be crowned from 7 regions across the country.

A family run, independent brokerage, Plan specialises in commercial motor insurance. Based in Surrey, the business was established 25 years ago by Peter Georgiades and his eldest son, Scott.

With Peter’s other two sons joining the business and helping it grow, whilst maintaining the principle of personal service and placing customers at the centre of what we do, Plan has built a trusted reputation for providing outstanding customer service and quality cover. And our company is steadily growing year on year.

We eat, sleep and breathe the company together. But we weren’t confident about how much our own story mattered to clients. However, this [shortlisting] shows that people buy from people and the personal nature of the company really resonates.

Youngest of the 3 brothers – Grant Georgiades

Voting is open online now for the prestigious People’s Choice Awards, determined solely by the Public Vote. All shortlisted businesses are entered into this as well as the Family Business of the Year 2016 title.

You can vote for Plan Insurance Brokers as your choice for the Family Business of the Year Award here up until the end of April.

What makes Plan stand out in the shortlist?

STRONG BRAND

The three brothers recognise that having a strong brand is not just the preserve of large companies. As a broker of commercial vehicle insurance, our clients depend on having their vehicles on the road – without them they cannot earn.

Therefore our entire company ethos is geared around helping to keep UK businesses motoring by minimising the chances they might be rendered vehicle-less following an incident.

As well as this strong customer ethos is our strong visual rebranding, that launched a fresh look website, logo, advertising materials and promo products coming into the public eye July last year.

INVESTED IN TECHNOLOGY

As a family business, we have benefited from fresh ideas and enthusiasm as younger members of the family have joined – and we feel this often makes us stand out from competitors because our dynamic management team sees value in developing its digital services.

Social media
Specialist office systems
Web optimisation strategies
Advanced IT department
Investment in online technology for devices

… are just some of the ways we feel Plan has broadened its horizons – and there is much more potential. An Online Client Portal is underway and Online Quote Forms are also soon to be revealed on our website.

THOUGHT LEADERS

Plan has established itself as a thought leader within the commercial motor industry by providing expert opinion and advice in areas of regulation.

We have recently been asked by a private hire driver’s union to consult on how to safeguard public safety by reviewing TFL’s processes – to determine licensed drivers are at all times fully insured. A white paper on the subject is due for publication in the trade press shortly.

DIVERSIFYING

As well as our specialism in commercial motor insurance, sport – in particular cycling – is something the family are incredible passionate about. Recognising a gap in the market for specialist cycle insurance, Yellow Jersey Cycle Insurance was launched 18 months ago.

Already we’re working with Team Wiggo (Bradley Wiggin’s race team) and Matrix Fitness (Laura Trott’s race team) and are continuing to go from strength to strength.

CHARITY SPONSORS

Last but certainly not least is our keen involvement with trade charities as well as local and national fundraising events.

Last year alone saw Plan aided:

• The British Heart Foundation’s blood pressure-drive by visiting Black Cab drivers at the busy Heathrow rank with a nurse, for the ‘Wear It Beat It’ campaign.
• Red Nose Day, Children In Need and Text Santa Christmas Jumper Day saw office bake-offs, egg-roulette and the Schofield Sweepstake raise nearly £1,000 for their respective charities.
• In September, we co-sponsored a taxi in The Children’s Magical Taxi Tour – where a fleet of over 100 black cabs take terminally ill children to Disneyland Paris over a weekend.
• Just recently 10 large gift bags of useful, warm items were donated to Support Black Taxis Xmas Appeal, where parcels were distributed to the London homeless over Christmas.
• We also take part on social media, contributing useful blog posts and helping to promote awareness charities such as Brake Charity, Posture Awareness, and Men United to name a few.