1813 Club and Premier Members Supertouch
opens office A safety gear and workwear specialist has created 20 new jobs after opening a new head office in Smethwick. The firm is Supertouch,
Ten years after: Matthew Southall and Mark Harries
Insurer celebrates ten years in the business
An Edgbaston-based insurance business is celebrating its tenth anniversary. The business is Southall Harries Commercial Insurance Brokers, which began life in 2006 when two young Birmingham insurance brokers gave up their well-paid, safe careers in large brokerages to launch their own company. The pair are 41-year-old Matthew Southall and Marc
Harries, 45, who hail from Sutton Coldfield. The business has three divisions, commercial
insurance, scheme insurance, personal and alongside those, financial services. Income has more than doubled over the last decade,
from £2m to more than £5.5m now, and the number of staff has grown from seven to 18. The business has more than 2,000 clients, half of
which are businesses. All of this success has not dimmed the memory of the early days of the business, which, given the fact both had steady well-paid jobs, was something of a gamble. Matthew said: “Life was tough in the early days of
the business. We both gave up jobs with larger organisations and not everyone took kindly to that. “A few logs were rolled in our way, but we got over
that – thanks to the loyalty and support of family, friends and clients. Marc and I know what it is like to have your backs against the wall and we are
‘We grew the business largely through personal referrals which included Chamber membership’
sympathetic to clients who face the same problems. We had to overcome significant regulatory hurdles.” “Right from the beginning, our aim wasn’t just to sell
insurance services at any cost to clients, but to advise them on protecting their businesses and themselves, often enabling them to save money.” “We didn’t have the funds for massive marketing campaigns and we grew the business largely through personal referrals which included Chamber membership and networking organisations such as BNI International. “Anyone who has had to claim from an insurance
company knows that it is the moment when you discover what kind of insurer you are really dealing with. We are alongside the client at that critical time, making sure that they get a fair deal. “Doing business has its serious side, but we also
believe that it should be fun. That starts in the office but encompasses the relationship with our clients - who we also regard as friends. This is the basis on which we will continue to build this business, but we are also looking to grow by acquisition in the future.”
which is based at Rabone Park, in Rabone Lane, Smethwick. When the firm was founded in 1996, by current chairman Parvez Akhtar, it was based in Essex. Sarah Bridge, Supertouch’s managing director, said: “The opening of the new site in Smethwick is as much a celebration of our history as it is our future.
‘We’re proud of our heritage, our people and our new location’
“PPE (personal protective equipment) and workwear has changed over the last 20 years but the safety needs of our customer’s remains the same. As one of the largest manufacturers and suppliers of PPE and workwear in the UK, we’re proud of our heritage, our people and our new location in the Midlands. “With such a rich industrial,
scientific and cultural heritage here in the West Midlands, we are incredibly proud to call it our new home. Thanks to the impressive transport network that surrounds us and the continued investment in the area we feel we are well placed to take the business forward.” Supertouch sells a complete
range of PPE and workwear from hi-vis gear to flame- retardant clothing.
Young people build their futures
Wincanton, the Coleshill-based logistics provider, has launched a new two-year training programme aimed at attracting more young people to the logistics industry. The Your Future programme builds on
Wincanton’s award-winning and Ofsted accredited training and provides trainees with a range of highly transferrable skills delivered through a personalised training plan. James Tooze, a Wincanton site general manager,
said: “It’s well documented that the industry faces increasing skills shortages and an ageing work force. “It’s crucial that the industry acts now to address
these challenges and to build a sustainable pipeline of future talent. Your Future is one of the ways Wincanton is looking to do just that.” Following completion of the programme,
trainees can follow a warehouse pathway that includes further management training, a placement to the site of a major Wincanton customer or apply for a driving position following completion of an HGV licence. New trainee, Masie Gallears, 22, from Atherstone,
said: “I hadn’t considered a career in logistics until I heard about Wincanton’s Your Future training programme. It certainly broadened my horizons and I think the skills and experience I gain will really help me throughout my career, regardless of where I end up or whatever I end up doing.” Initially based at the company’s Midlands site,
the programme will be expanded in the coming months. With 12 trainees currently enrolled, it is scheduled to deliver its first cohort of skilled young people into the business by June 2018.
December 2016/January 2017 CHAMBERLINK 25
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