Sandy Scott takes Achievement Award at 2011 British Insurance Awards

Among the other major winners on the night were Ageas, General Insurer of the Year; Towergate, winner of the E-Business Award (with Powerplace) and the Investing in the Profession award; Willis, took the Young Achiever of the Year (Tom Stephenson) and Technology Award (with Acturis); and Howden was recognised as Insurance Broker of the Year.

The 2011 BIA was hosted by television and radio celebrity Jonathan Ross, and guests were entertained by the ACM choir and the 2010 winners of Britain's Got Talent, Spellbound.

To get a first look at the photos from the night make sure you click on to the Post Facebook page, Post 1840 throughout Thursday.

A full list of winners and shortlisted nominees follows.


1) Commercial Lines Broking Initiative of the Year - SME/mid-corporate

Aon - Winner

Beginning life as a suite of property, casualty and motor policy wordings, Aon Trio has helped push the boundaries in the mid-corporate segment, evolving to become a full client proposition delivering a competitive combination of premium, cover and service for clients.

• Brunel Professional Risks
• Capita Specialist Insurance Solutions
• Caunce O'Hara

2) Personal Lines Broking Initiative of the Year

Provisional Marmalade - Winner

Provisional Marmalade made its mark with a stand alone insurance policy written in the name of learner drivers, allowing them to practice their driving skills in a family or friend's car, which is already insured.

• Halo Insurance Services
• Pluginsure
• Towergate Bakers

3) Insurance Broker of the Year

Howden Insurance Brokers - Winner

Howden achieved significant growth in 2010 through organic developments such as new products, professional partnerships, country licenses and hires; as well as acquisitions including Accette Group, the largest independent insurance broker in South East Asia.

• Autonet Insurance Services
• Lloyd & Whyte
• Marsh

4) Claims Initiative of the Year

NFU Mutual - Rural Claims Initiative - Winner

Acknowledging that agricultural vehicle theft is an increasing problem with approximately £1.5m of machinery stolen in the UK every week, NFU Mutual funded a dedicated Detective Constable to work fulltime in its claims team, focusing on the disruption and detection of criminal activity to aid the recovery of stolen vehicles.

• Ageas
• CEGA Group Services
• Marsh
• South Essex Insurance Brokers

5) The Major Loss Award

FitzGerald Consulting - Winner

In the wake of the Chilean earthquake FitzGerald Consulting managed a number of notable achievements, none more remarkable that settling the majority of all losses within twelve months, and recovering 100% of reinsurers' liabilities without delays, disputes or compromises.

• British Gas Insurance
• GAB Robins and QBE
• Garwyn Group
• Marsh

6) Investing in the Profession Award

Towergate Insurance - Winner

Despite setting a number of tough goals to raise professional standards at the company, Towergate has exceeded them, not least helped by the Towergate Business School which sets a personal development for every employee.

• Kwik Fit Insurance
• Lockton Companies LLP
• Wilby
• Willis Re

7) Young Achiever of the Year

Tom Stephenson - Willis - Winner

Joining a branch at the low point in its history, Tom has taken it from being one of the worse performing, to one of the best, increasing sales by 80% and securing a number of major new corporate clients.

• Debbie Daley - Cunningham Lindsey
• Charlotte Hanna - Kwik Fit Financial Services
• Frank Kavanagh - Hiscox

8) The E-Business Award

PowerPlace - Winner

Allowing brokers to compare prices, cover and excesses across a competitive panel using a one question-set quote generator, PowerPlace has been at the forefront of helping the commercial market catch up with the personal lines one in terms of exploiting the power of online connectivity.

• Aon Benfield
• Insurethebox
• More Than

9) The Technology Award

Willis and Acturis - Winner

Willis and Acturis have worked together on a transformational change programme with a new technology platform at its core, delivering significant results in a market littered with recession triggered change programme failures.

• BMS Group
• Brit Insurance
• RBS Insurance and Insurance Services Office
• Validus IVC

10) The Customer Care Award

Axa Personal Lines (SIMS) - winner

Having identified that communication and service needed improving if it was to offer market leading customer service, SIMS exceeded its goals having conducted detailed analysis of surveys, internet forums, blogs, Twitter and complaints.

• Aviva
• LV=
• RSA

11) Marketing Initiative

Hiscox - winner

In a tough environment, Hiscox has seen positive shifts in brand perceptions, conversion ratios and sales in its three core markets household, SME and broker with its "As Good As Our Word" campaign.

• Bluefin
• Express Insurance

12) Service Provider of the Year

Crawford & Company - winner

With an unprecedented level of natural catastrophes across the world in 2010 and 2011 Crawford & Company seized the opportunity to prove the worth of its UK and global capabilities.

• Davis French & Associates
• DWF
• Legal & General Workplace Savings

13) Business Transformation Deal of the Year

British Gas Insurance - Winner

One of the UK's leading provider of home services, throughout 2010 British Gas has transformed its business from an unregulated, maintenance basis to create one of the largest Insurers in the UK.

• Avantia
• Gibbs Hartley Cooper

14) Business Sustainability Initiative of the Year

The Green Insurance Company - Winner

Launching its Green Grants initiative in 2010, TGIC helped to promote good environmental practices to staff, customers, and communities across the UK - resulting in engaged, enthusiastic workforce that are choosing to stay with the business longer.

• ETA Services
• RBS Insurance

15) The Risk Management Award

Insurable Risk Team - Tesco Stores - Winner

With a key aim was to make Tesco "A Safer Place to Shop and Work", the Insurable Risk Team set out its objective to improve further the safety of its customers and employees by reducing the number of accidents and, as a result, the cost of personal injury claims.

• Aon
• Exclusive Analysis
• Zurich Municipal

16) Underwriter of the Year

InsureCancer - Winner

InsureCancer has made a name for itself as a specialist cancer travel underwriter whose sole purpose is the provision of cover to those with active, metastatic or terminal cancer.

• Chartis Insurance UK
• Hiscox
• LV

17) General Insurer of the Year

Ageas UK - Winner

• Allianz Insurance
• Brit Insurance
• Hiscox
• LV

18) The Achievement Award

Sandy Scott, CEO, Chartered Insurance Institute