All about the
A-One Insurance Group
One man. One goal. One vision.
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: The A-One Insurance Group.
How did A-One 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 75 UK broker
This has elevated us into the Top 75 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.
We listen, we understand and we look after you every step of the way.
Navigating the world of insurance can be overwhelming, which is why we make it our mission to simplify the process for you. By fostering strong relationships with insurers, we take the hassle out of shopping around for policies, so that you don’t have to. Our extensive network allows us to access a wide range of options, ensuring that we can offer you the most comprehensive coverage tailored to your specific needs.
But it’s not just about finding you the right policy – it’s about building a relationship built on trust and reliability. From the moment you reach out to us, whether it’s for a quote or to file a claim, you can count on us to be there for you every step of the way. We’re here to listen to your concerns, understand your unique situation, and provide you with the personal support you deserve.
We’ve cultivated strong partnerships with insurers, which means we’re able to secure more favourable premiums for our customers. That means you can enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’re getting great value without compromising on coverage.
At A-One, we’re more than just an insurance provider – we’re your partner in protection. So, let us take care of the details while you focus on what matters most. Get in touch with us today and experience the A-One difference for yourself!
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
The A-One Insurance Group Directors
Ian Penfold
Managing Director
Sarah Smith
Group Operations Director
Matthew Hines
Group IT & Fleet Director
Ryan Jupp
Group Business Development Director
The A-One Insurance Group Companies
Proud of Who We Are
