Hamilton-based brokerage Bridges Insurance has been growing steadily over the past 25 years, and now has over 20 employees along with a specialist Chinese and South African team. The brokerage is setting its sights on further growth in 2020, and director & senior insurance broker Faith Owens (pictured) says its rapid growth has brought both rewards and new challenges.
“In terms of our business, we’re definitely looking at continued growth,” Owens commented.
“We’ve taken on more staff and are writing more business, and we’re adjusting to the fact that we have to look at the business through a different lens. We’re not the same company that we were five years ago, and getting to grips with the things we need to do differently as a result.”
“As a broker, it’s always tricky because we have to keep abreast of which insurer is doing what,” she explained
“You have to be aware of their recent product offerings, etc. I’m always willing to put my hand up and say that you never know everything, and you’ll come across something new every day.”
Owens says this way of working is particularly appropriate for the Bridges office, where people have almost become ‘quasi-experts’ in certain areas, due to the types of insurance they deal with on a day to day basis.
“They’ve gained that knowledge because that’s the kind of business they write, and we’re all quite conscious of picking each other’s brains to get the help and internal knowledge when we need it,” Owens said.
“We’re definitely working hard to boost and grow the team. We had a few new starters at the end of last year and the beginning of this year, and we’re always hoping to talk with good people.
“We do business planning and strategy on a frequent basis, we set ourselves goals and targets and work out what we’re going to do to get there.”
Owens was named one of the Insurance Business Global 100 last year, and won Broker of the Year at the 2019 Women in Insurance New Zealand Awards.
