Plan Insurance Brokers is a family run business. It was established back in 1989 by Peter Georgiades and his eldest son Scott. Peter was confident that with his expertise as an independent financial advisor and Scott’s youthful enthusiasm, a successful company could be born. They got the opportunity to realise that ambition when a struggling high street brokerage in Catford came on the market.
The newly formed company was called “Peter Scott Insurance” and specialised in personal lines insurance. To modernise the trading systems they took the then revolutionary measure of dispensing with hand written quote sheets and introduced desk top PC’s. Peter’s faith was not misplaced and throughout its first decade of trading the company flourished. So much so that in 1997 the business purchased Nicholas Paul Insurance and moved to West Croydon.
The advent of direct insurers in the late 90’s had rendered the outlook for traditional brokers relatively bleak so in early 2000 Peter decided to take a step back and his middle son Ryan joined as M.D. Ryan brought with him fresh verve, vital experience of the financial sector and a new perspective. He concurred with his father that on-line trading had completely usurped the role of the broker in personal insurance where policies had become standardised and traded like commodities. He realised that if the business was to remain relevant amidst changing times that a new direction was required. Thus he resolved to move the business towards non-standard specialist niche commercial motor product lines where a broker could provide a demonstrative value.
Ryan identified a small book of loyal motor trade insurance clients that the company held as providing the route forward. He noted that the intricate nature of this product lent itself perfectly to his vision. Therefore in his role as director of corporate relations, Scott was charged with building key relationships with leading insurers to establish a competitive rating panel. The brokerage was also re-branded to become Plan Insurance. This new trading style facilitated brand extensions into additional product lines. This included the newly formed motor trade specialist department Trade Plan Insurance.
Significant financial investment was then made to develop a bespoke in-house computer system that would be capable of instantly quoting several insurers’ rates at once. This was a significant technological advancement for the motor trade insurance market. Many questioned whether it would eventually render the broker’s role obsolete as had been the case with personal lines products. However the nuances of each motor trade policy means that the broker continues to play a vital role in providing expert advice pre-sale.
In 2006, Peter’s youngest son Grant, and only child yet to be involved in the company on a permanent basis, left his successful media career to join his two brothers. He took up the role of director of marketing. On joining he led the company’s focus away from traditional display advertising to on-line marketing channels and oversaw a major rebranding exercise of the business’s holding company. Grant’s responsibilities included all cross-channel marketing activity across the newly formed, The Plan Group Ltd.
In the same year an additional brand, Taxi Plan Insurance was launched targeting growth in the taxi and private hire sectors, with the aim of replicating the success of Trade Plan Insurance within the motor trade industry. This proved successful and Plan is now firmly established as a leading broker within the private hire insurance market. The combination of tailor cover, outstanding personal service and expert advice has proven a winning formula, one that has subsequently also been introduced into the commercial contractors market.
In 2015 the company underwent its second brand refresh. In the years since its last update the business had moved grown several niche commercial insurance markets, each time creating a new sub-brand. With numerous trading names it was easy for communications to become diluted. It made sense to bring the sub-brands together under the principal brand name, Plan Insurance. It was also decided that brokers should be appended in order to make clear the company’s position within the insurance market. So with a reworked logo and modernised website a refreshed Plan Insurance Brokers was unveiled.
The beginning of 2018 saw Grant step into the role of Managing Director as Ryan moved up to become Chairman. With fresh verve, a thoroughly strategic approach and an in depth knowledge of the company’s workings, the board felt confident he would augment Plan’s professional reputation whilst facilitating continued growth.
Over the years to accommodate its expansion, the company has moved premises from Catford, Waddon, Purley, and to their current office in Redhill. Each time, the Directors of Plan Insurance Brokers have sought to provide that personal touch and attention to detail that comes from being taken care of by a family run business.
