The Movo Partnership takes the Bronze Award in the Challenger of the Year category at the Insurance Times Awards.    

In our business, we love to remind our team members that just because ‘this is the way things are done’ does not mean ‘this is the way things should be done’.

The Movo Partnership has had to overcome the old perception of an appointed representative (AR) network and show why it is not only an alternative way for independent brokers to trade but the preferred way.

We believe there hasn’t been a more disruptive insurance network model in the last five years at least. In just over three years, we have caught up – in terms of numbers – with all our competitors.

Being recognised for our hard work since the Movo Partnership went live is rewarding because it is confirmation for everyone in the business to know that we are getting things right. It was also a wonderful way to round off the year. 

“We made a commitment at the beginning of this journey that the network would not focus on maximising its profits, but rather it would reinvest to improve the lives of our members.

To be recognised through this award would go some way towards making the last three years feel like it has been ‘mission achieved.”

Lea Cheesbrough

Movo passes on their congratulations to hubb for winning the category at this year’s awards and to Aviva for taking silver and being such excellent table hosts on the night.

The Movo Partnership network (Movo) is hosting its first-ever annual conference and Award Ceremony on 31^st March.    

Bringing its people, broker members, leading insurers, and partners together in person, in one place, it promises to be a uniquely dynamic and engaging celebration of just how far Movo has come since its launch in 2019.

Lea Cheesbrough, Managing Director of Movo, comments: “From day one Movo dared to dream big.  In just three years we have exceeded our targets.  We’ve attracted 52 broker members, grown to 30 employees, and have written more than £40 million GWP.  We continue to set ambitious targets and expect to reach 75 members and £65m GWP by the end of 2022.” 

She continues:

“As an independent network we have ‘come of age’ and now is the perfect time to celebrate just how far we have come in achieving our mission to be the leading enabler for insurance entrepreneurs, and to say thank you to our members who are not only the lifeblood of our business, but the backbone of our industry.”

Hosted by Aviva, the conference, which has attracted an impressive list of exhibitors from across the insurance industry, will feature keynote sessions from Alex Smith, CEO of Harrisons Fund; Paralympian Lauren Rowles MBE; and Amanda Blanc, CEO of Aviva, as well as a range of lively interactive breakout sessions.    Delegates will then be whisked off by Vintage London bus to a glittering evening award ceremony in the heart of the West End.

Work-life balance has shifted since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.  

There are many studies reporting the positive effects of people spending more time with their families and doing what they really enjoy.  That includes taking a holiday – whether local, at home or overseas – simply taking a moment to deal with other aspects of our lives outside of the workplace, or taking regular health breaks to improve physical and mental well-being.

Many small insurance brokers find running their own business very rewarding, however, taking a holiday is rarely one of these rewards.  It’s hard for brokers to step away when they don’t have colleagues they can rely on to take care of things in their absence.

The Movo Partnership (Movo) is an AR broker network that prides itself on thinking like a broker.  They know that brokers need to take care of themselves if they are to take care of their business.  Maintaining health and well-being is a major challenge for small brokers, but it’s an important contributor towards long-term success. 

So, in December 2021 Movo launched its Locum Service, offering members the opportunity to book up to two weeks holiday free of charge.  This value-added member benefit allows Movo brokers to take time out safe in the knowledge that their business is being run by a knowledgeable and experienced team, under a white-labelled service offering.

Stuart Hurst, Managing Director of National Risk Solutions was the first Movo member to take up the scheme.  This is his experience of using the Locum service to take a 7-day holiday in Cornwall.

Stuart formed National Risk Solutions in 2019.   The business offers a vast range of commercial insurance solutions, including but not limited to transport, manufacturing, construction, motor, and technology media. 

National Risk Solutions prides itself on being always available and able to react to any situation relating to a client’s insurance programme, whether that be a change to a policy, or most importantly, responding to and managing claims.  Offering this level of service for a micro business is not necessarily conducive to taking a holiday, so Stuart jumped at the opportunity to take Movo up on its new Locum service.

A lifesaver in many respects
Stuart formed National Risk Solutions in 2019.   The business offers a vast range of commercial insurance solutions, including but not limited to transport, manufacturing, construction, motor, and technology media. 

National Risk Solutions prides itself on being always available and able to react to any situation relating to a client’s insurance programme, whether that be a change to a policy, or most importantly, responding to and managing claims.  Offering this level of service for a micro business is not necessarily conducive to taking a holiday, so Stuart jumped at the opportunity to take Movo up on its new Locum service.

“The Locum service has been a lifesaver in many respects”, said Stuart.  “I tend not to take too many holidays, and even when I do it’s impossible to truly switch off.   Being able to trust Movo to take over my workload and handle my calls and emails meant I was able to spend quality time with my family.”

Stuart Hurst

Business as usual
Stuart credits the Locum service as being easy to arrange and manage.  “The Movo team have always been a partner to my business, but now they are an extension of it.  I simply diverted my phone and emails, and they switched on as soon as I switched off.”

“It was quite literally business as usual.  Movo handled policy changes, claims, and provided always-on assistance to my customers in exactly the same way as I would do myself.  They got the job done and there was no interruption of service.”

A network that thinks differently
National Risk Solutions was one of The Movo Partnership’s first members when it was set up in 2019.  The network was founded by a collection of brokers whose mission it was to ‘think differently’ and help its members have more time to do the most important elements of their jobs.  They are now extending this to help them improve their work-life balance.

“Movo support is second to none”, concludes Stuart.  “Not only am I in the enviable position of having fast access to market with no restrictions in terms of access to insurers or products but I’m supported by a network that really cares about my business and my customers.  They have saved my bacon many times when I’ve needed extra support, and now they are working to ensure that my health and wellbeing is taken care of too.”

We are absolutely delighted to share with you that AIG is now a partner insurer of Movo.

AIG is a leading global insurance organisation with operations in an estimated 80 countries and jurisdictions. They provide a wide range of property, casualty insurance, life insurance, retirement solutions, and other financial services to support clients in business and in life through their General Insurance, Life & Retirement and Investments business units.

Having been established for over 100 years AIG is one of the largest insurers in the world.

AIG has been a market that we have wanted to secure for some time and having them join our panel of insurers will offer you a very exclusive market with some unique products and facilities as well as provide you with a wide spectrum of products and sector coverage.

Lea Cheesbrough

Again we feel this partnership really demonstrates our commitment to the network and our partners. We strive to constantly offer the very best products in terms of quality and choice, ensuring we give everyone the opportunity to grow and offer real value to their own clients.

Our brokers will be able to access the full range of products which include:

 

The Movo Partnership are delighted to welcome Travellers as an Insurer Partner. Travelers offer a very exclusive market with some unique products and facilities as well as providing with a wide spectrum of products and sector coverage.

Travelers also offer an online platform called MyTravelers where they trade a number of products, they also have products available directly in Acturis. They have an exceptionally wide appetite and can write extremely large risks both in the UK and globally.

Travelers are selective over whom they work with and remain a very sought after Insurer Partner not only in the UK but globally, hence why we are absolutely thrilled that they have agreed to partner with us. Along with our other key partners, we are confident that Travelers will offer huge benefits to our group.

Lea Cheesbrough stated that ‘this partnership really demonstrates our commitment to the network and our own partners. We are constantly striving to offer the very best products in terms of quality and choice, ensuring we give everyone the opportunity to grow and offer real value to their own clients.

We want all our partners to be able to run a business they can be proud of, giving them opportunity to uphold the highest standards for product and service.’

 

Movo are extremely pleased to welcome Drew Passmorre & Chris Reece along with the rest of the team at Central Insurance.

Located at the gates of the historic and picturesque Stanley Park, Central Insurance has been trading in Blackpool, Lancashire since 1989.

THE BACK STORY

Central Insurance is an independent broker offering a wide range of insurance products. From terraced houses to stadiums, multi-national company insurance to insuring a weekend trip to Paris, Central can help. 

Central have quadrupled in size over the past four years and have used the growth of the company along with the traditional family values the foundations of the company are built on to forge strong links with all of the UK’s major insurance companies.

WHY WAS THE MOVO PARTNERSHIP A GOOD FIT?
Central confirmed they were excited to be joining Movo Partnership Ltd as they wanted to build their own relationships with brokers and have the freedom to grow and trade in the way they felt was right for their clients.

Central were looking for a network that gave them freedom to broke but protected them and their clients -Direct Authorisation had been considered but the red tape and compliance support needed would have detracted from the customers so the team felt Movo was a strong alternative to DA

LEA CHEESBROUGH’S COMMENTS ON CENTRAL INSURANCE SERVICES
“A very big Movo Partnership welcome to the team at KBD Associates T/as Central Insurance. It has been an intense 6 months ensuring everything was in place for the Go Live! A huge thank you to the Central Team and to the team at Acturis Limited for a smooth transition. We are very excited to be working with such an established broker and for me personally having known the guys for years it is fantastic to be part of the team supporting their next phase! ”

IN SUMMARY
It has been another fantastic experience working with a broker the size of Central and completing a substantial data transfer with Acturis. We have learned such a lot and I am delighted the ‘go live’ has taken place so smoothly.

Aviva’s Club 110 is an exclusive, invitation-only proposition that supports what Aviva calls ‘the very best regional independent brokers’ in the UK.

The club was set up to help its members grow and prosper as well as take advantage of a wealth of member benefits. This includes free access to a wide range of specialist solutions from expert providers, all backed and underwritten by Aviva with service level agreements in place.

Movo members have been working with Aviva over the last few years to develop our account together. From a broking perspective, Aviva is one of the premier insurers for commercial customers so it has always made sense to foster a close working relationship.

Lea Cheesbrough commented ‘We have been working closely with Aviva over the past 12-18 months and the account has grown steadily. It was an exciting moment to be advised we have now formally made it to the “club”.

The thanks however go to each of our brokers for working with Movo placement teams and Aviva to ensure we repeatedly hit the targets and milestones that were put in place and the benefits of now becoming a 110 member will mean greater support from underwriters and the wider Aviva management team’