All about the
A-One Insurance Group
First and foremost, we’re an independent insurance broker.
One man. One goal. One vision.
Here’s a bit about us
First and foremost we’re an independent insurance broker! Founded in 1993, the company was started in a small office in Westbourne, Bournemouth with Ian Penfold opening the doors without a single policy to its name. Fuelled by enthusiasm, a strong self-belief in how a good client focused business should be run, how to look after key staff, and just believing in all those ingredients, combined with a fair wind it would provide a new vibrant brokerage.
How did it start?
Starting as a personal insurance broker, A-One developed niche areas of high value sports cars and quickly established a strong brand, trusted by clients who wanted a bespoke service against a backdrop of call centres and the rise of faceless direct insurers.
Entering the commercial insurance market was a deliberate change of strategy in 1998, offering commercial clients much needed specialist advice and servicing. With experienced commercial staff, we grew very quickly, backed by trusted insurer partners whilst offering a new idea at the time, a dedicated claims team.
Then we started to grow!
We quickly cemented the business as a leading commercial brokerage in the Dorset area offering more than long established businesses. We took our first steps into the acquisition market in 2002 by purchasing two local brokers, transforming largely developed personal businesses into a full brokerage, that provided our commercial services.
A further four acquisitions were completed over the following ten years coupled with the creation of our partner network, developing commercial, property, personal lines, health care, aviation, professional risks and private client departments to enable us to look after all our client’s needs.
We became a Top 50 Insurance Broker!
This has elevated us into the Top 50 Independently owned commercial brokerages *and firmly establishing us as a highly respected leading brokerage in the South.
Today, we are proud to look after over £40m of policy premiums, supported by over 160 valued members of staff over eight locations, who support our clients individually. Our client focus today is even stronger, with the flexibility to either conduct business over the telephone, video link or at their premises, depending on the complexities of the risks or simply what our clients need us to do.
With the business still remaining in private ownership this allows the client journey to remain the main focus of the company.
* as illustrated within the Insurance Age.
Your Independent Insurance Broker
A-One is a family of highly skilled insurance brokers that people trust.
Through hard work and honest trading we have been able to build and maintain long lasting relationships with clients, in some cases across several generations. Our independence is vital in our pursuit of the best protection for our clients – particularly in our specialist divisions – something that is reflected in a renewal rate that is the envy of our competitors.
Since the company was formed in 1993 our ethos has always been the same to provide our clients with a unique personal service that really makes us stand out against our competitors in the insurance industry. This includes providing a unique account handler service where one of our highly skilled team will be specifically assigned to deal with all of your queries or amendments throughout the duration of your policy.
At A-One Insurance we strive to provide the highest standards of service. This includes enrolling our staff on the latest courses and helping our staff to attain the highest industry qualifications which allows them to use these skills and knowledge to provide accurate and essential advice on a host of insurance subjects.
To ensure that we achieve the highest levels of service for our clients we also provide a fully dedicated in-house claims department. Our highly experienced claims team will walk you through each stage of your claim to ensure that you always have peace of mind and support should the worst happen.
Our Values
Pursue Excellence
Flexibly Innovative
People Centric
As a team of experts, we also collaborate and share our knowledge to support colleagues across the group.
Reassuringly Collaborative
Protecting Your Tomorrow
Our Awesome Directors

Ian Penfold
Managing Director

Sarah Eades
Group Operations Director

Matthew Hines
Group IT & Fleet Director

Ryan Jupp
Group Business Development Director
The A-One Insurance Group
We Are Proud
We’re incredibly proud of who we are and all that we continue to achieve.
An Amazing
98%
Client Retention
Over
24,000
Insurance Policies
Over
£21 million
Claims Managed