An introduction to Ardonagh

INTRODUCTION

T O

It has been a few weeks since the announcement that Bravo Group is now part of Ardonagh’s Advisory platform. This is an exciting time for us all and will truly help us to grow and cement our leading position in the market. So, in this edition of Our Voice, we wanted to provide you with an opportunity to learn a bit more about the Ardonagh Group.

60 seconds with...

Ardonagh Advisory CEO, Rob Worrell

TELL US HOW YOU GOT INTO THE INDUSTRY?

At the age of 18, I started as an A Level Trainee at Provincial Insurance. I got my first broking job shortly before my 21st birthday, working as a Commercial Account Handler. I owe so much to Kevin Cody, now MD of Broker Network Member Radius Insurance Brokers, who gave me that job, as it started a real love affair with broking. When I was 24, along with three older (and far wiser) friends, I set up The Insurance Partnership (TIP). TIP grew to £60m+ GWP, up to its sale to Jelf in 2013. Within Jelf, I became CEO of the General Insurance Broking Division, before joining Ardonagh in 2017. I still remain active, seeing clients regularly and sitting on Aviva’s Retail Council and Allianz’s Strategic Partner Forum.

IF YOU HAD TO DESCRIBE THE ADVISORY PLATFORM IN THREE WORDS WHAT WOULD THEY BE?

Resilient, diverse, unstoppable.

WHAT IS THE MOST EXCITING THING FOR YOU ABOUT THE BRAVO GROUP BECOMING PART OF ADVISORY?

It feels to me as if it is ‘coming home’ and I am being reunited with some old trusted, highly rated and valued friends, as well as having the chance to work with some new colleagues who I have previously admired from afar. In terms of the networks, at heart I will always think like an independent broker.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE THING ABOUT

Being both trusted and empowered by David Ross, the CEO of Ardonagh, seems to bring the best out of me; as such, I am lucky enough to have a wide remit, which is my favourite aspect, although there are a number of other positives. Ardonagh Intro WHAT GOALS DO YOU HAVE FOR THE NEXT

FIVE YEARS FOR THE ADVISORY PLATFORM?

I want us to keep improving, raising the quality bar and be the very best version of ourselves – both clients and colleagues deserve the best of us. I aspire, as do my leadership team, to deliver that and be relentless in its pursuit.

“It feels to me as if it is ‘coming home’ ”

WHEN YOU’RE NOT WORKING, WHERE WOULD WE FIND YOU?

At home with my family, in the gym or, if the weather permits, on the golf course.

WHAT’S YOUR SECRET TALENT THAT NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT?

I haven’t many talents, whether secret or otherwise, but I can touch my nose with my tongue – says more about the size of my nose than

YOUR JOB AND WORKING FOR ARDONAGH?

my tongue!

WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO WHEN THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC IS OVER? I used to be either a firm hand-shaker or a hugger – returning to either or both would be lovely but there’s no early signs that that will be the case.

ACTion to help local communities

As we’re now part of Ardonagh, you can use its registered charity to make a difference to causes close to your heart. Ardonagh Community Trust, or ‘ACT’ as it is known, has a simple mission… to help local communities become stronger, better and brighter.

As insurance businesses, we’re uniquely connected to our local areas and ACT allows everyone across Ardonagh to harness the spirit, resilience and unique perspective to make a real impact on causes and communities.

ACT delivers a dedicated and focused financial support programme to UK communities through its four pillars:

Match Grant Charity Volunteering

ACT matches employee fundraising efforts up to the value of £200 per person, for any UK registered charity, all year round.

Through quarterly grants of up to £5k, the grant programme helps to fund community projects and causes close to the Ardonagh family. A national partnership with Mind, the mental health charity, focuses on raising funds to help its vital work and improve awareness. From January 2020, all Ardonagh colleagues receive one paid day a year to volunteer and support a charity or community project.

Ardonagh Intro

To date, ACT has:

• Matched £75k of funds raised by the people of Ardonagh

• Granted over £260k to 64 projects, from schools to foodbanks, football teams to shelters and more

• Donated £150k to charity partner Mind.

If you’re planning a fundraiser and want to apply for match funding or know a charity who would benefit from the next round of community grants, simply complete an application form (on Ethos Vision for Ethos Brokers and Teams for Broker Network, Compass and Bravo staff) and email it to info@ardonaghtrust.org. Applications for the Q3 round of community grants close on Friday 28th August and will be announced after the next Trustee meeting on 23rd September.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT ACT

Go Green Day

Save Friday 25th September in your calendar!

Since the start, ACT has been driven by the passion and creativity of Ardonagh’s people, never more so than on its annual Go Green Days, which have raised more than £220k for charities and Community Interest Companies (CICs) embedded in the localities that employees live and work within.

Following the impact of the pandemic and to acknowledge the dedication and generosity of Ardonagh’s people over the past few years, in This year, ACT is giving your teams and offices the opportunity to make a direct difference to a cause in your community.

You’ll hear more in the coming weeks but for 2020, Go Green Day will look a little different.

now, keep 25th September free in your diary, and start thinking about a local charity or community organisation that you’d like to give back to as a team.