Ashbourne Insurance celebrate 40 years young

2021 has been eagerly anticipated by the dedicated team of insurance professionals at independent broker, Ashbourne Insurance who celebrate 40 years of service to the local community of Hertfordshire this month. Ashbourne has become synonymous with first class customer service in Broxbourne for more than four decades. Ashbourne is a third-generation family run firm who has amassed many business awards for delivering top class customer service, excellent training and development of staff and as overall outstanding contributors to their community.

In the same year as the first London Marathon took place and the Royal wedding of the Prince of Wales and Lady Diane Spencer happened, Ashbourne Insurance was founded.

From humble pre-internet beginnings back in 1981 with a single desk, an underwriting guide and a telephone, Richard and Brenda Hunt founded Ashbourne in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire. From a hand delivered postal and personal service forty years ago to a now 21st century bespoke computer system which has streamlined accounts and assures paperwork is transmitting digitally, progress has taken many forms.

In 2008, the second generation took over the management of the business which includes Peter Smits, Managing Director together with his wife, Sarah Smits, Finance Director (daughter of the founders) and Matthew Hunt, Commercial Sales Director (son of the founders).

Highlights from the past ten years in particular include:

• Winning Ten Business Awards: Local, Regional and National. The recognition has come from the National Family Business Awards, British Chambers of Commerce awards, Love Hoddesdon, Inspiring Herts, SME Herts, SME UK Finance awards and others.
• Assisting over 2,000 local business and private clients
• Fundraising in excess of £75,000 for Charities including Willow Foundation, Herts Young Homeless, Isabel Hospice, Streets to Homes, Teens Unite, Childreach International and others.
• Jack Smits, Commercial Account Executive joined as 3rd generation family member in 2020
• Remote working was enabled within 24hours of the first Lockdown in March 2020 due to the significant investment into technology some years prior; working as normal to ensure full customer support
• Social Media Engagement has increased by more than 600% in the past 5 years
• Business networking has been a key component to the growth of the business and the commercial department in particular

Peter Smits, Managing Director of Ashbourne Insurance commented, “To celebrate 40 years in business with staff, fellow Directors, clients, the local community and family is one of my proudest moments. When Sarah, Matt and I took over the management of the business ten years ago, little did we know that we would be marking the occasion whilst in Tier 4 of a Pandemic, so thank you very much to our loyal clients for continued patronage – many of whom have been with us for over ten, twenty and thirty years. I must pay tribute to all the members of our team for upholding the family values which we were founded upon and amidst the current trend for digital technology to supersede traditional personal relationships, we have succeeded. Ashbourne is a twenty first company who have invested significantly in streamlining paperwork and administration but never losing sight of the fact that we hold personal service at the heart of everything we do. 2020 was very challenging for us all but we look forward with continued optimistic that Ashbourne and our local economy can survive and thrive if we all pull together and support one another. Thank you to our valued clients, suppliers, networking colleagues and local business community for helping us celebrate this 40th Anniversary year! We are here for you everyday, Monday to Saturday, as we always have always been through the past four decades. Please get in touch if we can help.”

Messages of congratulations have been sent to Ashbourne via LinkedIn, emails, video and social media. A selection includes:

Debbie Pezzani, Teens Unite “Congratulations to you and the team! An amazing Achievement”

Emma Supple, Supplefeet “Congratulations! Fortnum and Mason 400 years plus here you come!”

Claire Weeks, Curwens Solicitors “Huge Congratulations on an amazing achievement and well deserved”

Helen  Dobson, Dobsons “Congratulations to all at Ashbourne, what a great achievement!”

Gary Conner, MSPC Ltd “Congrats to you all at Ashbourne on your 40th Birthday”

Amanda Thurston, University of Hertfordshire “Well done…this is a fabulous achievement and a testament to the hard work you have put in to making your family business a success.”

Damian Cummins “Congrats! Always a pleasure to work with you and top service too!2

Jeffrey Abrahams, PremFina “Brilliant – great news and truly lovely people”

Garry King, Plantec Assist “Fantastic achievement everyone, a erect example of a superb team effort.”

Malcolm Kingsbury, Sparta Insurance Services “Great achievement, well done to all involved. Fantastic company”

Ian White, Century Underwriting “Congrats to everyone, nice to see a local triumph”

The Parish of Broxbourne & Wormley “Hearty congratulations to Ashbourne Insurance as they celebrate 40 years in Jan 2021. Long may your business prosper!”

Nigel Adams, TheProbatePropertyShop “Congratulations and very well deserved!”

Colette Cooper, Cariad Marketing “Well done all of you. What a great achievement.”

Briege Leahy, Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce “Well done team Ashbourne. Congratulations from all of us and thank you for being a supportive and fantastic patron over the years”

Ashbourne Insurance offers a wide range of business and personal insurances along with a claims advisory service. It is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).