Mixing Business and Pleasure Helps Bishop’s Stortford Firm Buck The Recession
HIC grows niche car insurance business and looks to recruit more staff
A local business has bucked the recession over the past year, increasing turnover by 65% and expanding its workforce by nearly 50%. "Last year we had 60 staff, right now we have 80 and we’re in the process of recruiting seven new people," says Martin Bowles of HIC, the classic and modified car insurance broker based in Bishop’s Stortford.
HIC (Herts. Insurance Consultants) has carved itself a niche in the specialist motoring market and the people who work there tend to be car enthusiasts themselves. "You don’t have to be a petrol head, but it helps," admits Martin. "Lots of the staff run weird and wonderful cars – modified, classic, kits and so on. We do a fair bit of work with VWs and there are usually a few old Beetles and campervans in the HIC car park."
Martin says the staff’s enthusiasm is a major factor in HIC’s success. "Having a workforce that’s passionate about their market really makes a difference. They find it easy to relate to customers, and customers like talking to them. We go to lots of car shows and events around the country and although we’re working the staff really enjoy them. It just shows you can mix business with pleasure and still be successful."
As well as offering specialist insurance in its own right, HIC is the name behind several popular niche insurance brands, including Santa Pod Insurance Services, which specializes in performance and modified cars, and JustKamper Insurance Services, for VW campervans. It’s also working with some of the UK’s top insurance brands, such as Go Compare.
"We’re still growing," adds Martin. "We’ve just launched a new brand, Volkszone Insurance Services, and as that comes on stream we’ll need to recruit again. We’ll probably need another ten to twelve new members of staff by the end of this year, on top of the ones we’re looking for now."
Anyone interested in finding out about job opportunities at HIC can call Martin Bowles on 08451 290290. For information about HIC visit www.hertsinsurance.com