Expanding Coversure Newcastle targets strong growth and community action
An expanding Newcastle-based insurance broker, who covers everything from rare tapestries to fleet cars and buildings, has won a national award after moving into new premises.
Janet Fay has run a Coversure franchise for 18 years and headed the Newcastle branch of the brokers for the last five years. The business has just relocated from its previous offices in the outskirts of Gosforth to a central position in Lansdowne Terrace as part of the business’ expansion.
The award-winning branch is targeting further growth of 20 per cent over the next year as Janet builds the business in its new premises.
She said: “We’ve taken over a bigger building with more space for expansion in a prominent position that is closer to the business community.
“Coversure is known for business and property insurance and is a speciality landlord insurer. However, we have taken on some pretty usual jobs over the years, including insuring a PR company run from a boat and covering a rare tapestry that’s worth more than £50,000.”
Much of the business’ bread and butter work is in the fleet, restaurant and heritage buildings sectors, but Coversure Newcastle is also strong in community insurance, and has covered the groundworks and grass cutting for Northumberland FA juniors.
Janet’s work in the community and commitment to raising money for good causes locally has just earned Coversure Newcastle the national Coversure Community Broker of the Year Award.
Its charitable work has taken on a whole new dimension thanks to her usual hobby – swimming in lakes and open rivers to raise cash for organisations including the Calvert Trust at Kielder, which works with people with disabilities. She has also raised money for charity by taking part in the Great North Swim.
Janet said: “My last swim was a one-mile challenge in Lake Windermere in support of the Calvert Trust. It was very, very cold and I had to wear a wetsuit, but it’s a great hobby and it’s fantastic that I can use it to do good locally.”
Janet, who is president nominee for her local branch of the Rotary Club, trains in a swimming pool before embarking on her tough fresh water challenges.
The Coversure Newcastle team also help charities and local organisations with their actions on dry land, which range from fundraising cake stalls to providing free administrative support such as photocopying for small charitable concerns.
“The Coversure award is about what you give back to the community,” said Janet.
“As insurers, we’re not just here for when things go wrong, and it’s important for us to get involved with the local community and help out where we can.
“We’re aiming to do that even more as the branch grows, both through our professional work and our commitment to helping local charities.”