Ashbourne Win At FSB Awards 2012

Independent high street broker Ashbourne Insurance, of Hoddesdon and Cheshunt, has beaten off stiff competition to win the prestigious “Training & Development” Award at this year’s Federation of Small Businesses Herts Business Awards 2012. The firm also scooped the runner-up Award for Customer Excellence and Sarah Smits, Finance Director, was a Business Person of the Year Finalist.

This win comes rapidly after the firm’s Sarah Smits, Finance Director, won the “Entrepreneur of the Year Award” at the Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s “Inspiring Herts Business Awards” last month.

Ashbourne was presented with the award on Thursday June 21st, 2012 by representatives of Bullet Point Media in front of more than 300 guests at a gala dinner held at the Shendish Manor Hotel.

Explaining their decision the judges commented: “This award recognises companies that take their training and development seriously for the good of both their staff and their business. Ashbourne Insurance won by a hefty margin and with the quality entries means they certainly stood out. The Judges said of Ashbourne ‘Although their industry lacks recognised qualifications they are investing heavily on training their staff’, ‘very well explained and evidenced’”.

Speaking at the event Peter Smits, Ashbourne’s Managing Director said: “I am so very proud of our team and delighted with the recognition that we have achieved at the FSB Herts Awards. We work in a very regulated industry but one that does not have any mandatory training qualifications. At Ashbourne we have invested heavily into bespoke training programmes for our dedicated team of 28 which in turn has had a direct positive effect on our high standards of customer service, again evidenced in the recognition we received for Excellent Customer Service at the awards.”

The family-run firm has also been nominated for five Red Ribbon Family Awards – a national award scheme designed to champion family run firms. Ashbourne has been shortlisted in five categories; Small Family Business of the Year, Innovation, Customer First and a nomination each for Managing Director Peter Smits and Finance Director Sarah Smits in the Best Family Business Ambassador category. Winners will be announced on Nov 23rd in London.

The 31-year-old family-run business, offers a wide range of business and personal insurance along with a claims advisory service. It is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

For more information visit http://ashbourneinsurance.co.uk