Local broker is recruiting insurance professionals – ideally they should be footballers, too…
David took on Goliath on July 19th 2009, and once again the little fellah had a secret weapon. In this case, ‘David’ was Bishop’s Stortford-based car insurance broker HIC (Herts Insurance Consultants). As part of an inter-company team-building initiative, they challenged their parent company, the Adrian Flux Insurance Services Group, to a game of football.
Whilst Flux employs well over 400 staff, HIC has just over 60. So it was game over? Not quite. HIC has a young workforce and director Andy Morton reckons they have a very upbeat outlook. "We go to a lot of pretty madcap car events as part of the job, so the guys and girls are ready to have a go at most things," he says.
Plus, of course, there was that secret weapon. In this case, it, or rather they, were in the form of HIC’s media consultants, Nicola Bray and Bethany Bygrave, who agreed to play for the team.
"It was a cunning plan, since when they’re not being media experts Nic and Beth play for Norwich City Ladies FC," explains Andy. In fact Beth is a former England player – sadly a knee injury brought her international career to a premature halt.
The game took place at Flux’s HQ in East Winch, Norfolk. In the event, Andy’s cunning plan didn’t quite work out. HIC took an early ("Well deserved," according to Andy) lead but by half-time Flux’s squad strength told and HIC went in 2-1 behind. HIC fought back but with ten minutes to go they were still behind when a ("Superb") lob levelled the score – only for the ref to blow for an earlier foul. The game ended with a 3-2 defeat for HIC.
"It was a valiant effort and we won’t get downhearted, even though the better team lost," says Andy. "Despite highly dubious refereeing decisions we are determined to be magnanimous in defeat. Plus, we’ll make sure we thrash them next time…."
Andy is already working on another cunning plan: "We’re currently looking for new staff, so we might think about putting potential recruits through their paces on the footie pitch as part of their interview," he says.
HIC is an insurance broker with a difference. It focuses on enthusiasts and niche markets – such as classic cars, VWs, campervans and minis. It’s a successful approach: the workforce has grown over 20% during the past 12 months and the company is continuing to expand. "We tend to recruit in groups of six or so, since we need to put new employees through a thorough training programme," explains Andy. "Over the next 12 months we’d hope to recruit up to 50 additional staff. Enough for a second eleven, maybe!"
So if you’re looking for a new job, have a sporty outlook and fancy working with a somewhat offbeat company, give HIC a call on 08451 290290.
For more information visit www.hertsinsurance.com or call 08451 290290.