The national broker is bringing the benefits of Chartered status to clients worldwide.

1. December 2010/January 2011
Chartered status
Broad horizons
for Bartlett
The national broker is bringing
the benefits of Chartered status
Profile
to clients worldwide, says
Peter Sharples
the bartlett group has come a long excellent record on client retention.” overseas colleagues and associates.”
way in the space of 70 years, from a Recent recruit Chris Sutherland, says Roberts. “Our overseas colleagues
provincial, one-man operation to a global insurance due diligence and liability are much more than mere names in an
presence with offices in London, Leeds, specialist, explains: “The opportunity internal directory. While other companies
Europe, North America and Asia. to join Bartlett in a role normally the may be able to provide a good standard
“Our progress has been achieved preserve of the national brokers is what of service to UK clients, they are often
through a deliberate strategy of steady really appealed to me.” unable to guarantee the same standard
and consistent organic growth, based on Chartered status has also helped of service in overseas territories.”
the quality of our people” says chairman Bartlett to attract a number of new Richard Taylor adds: “We have
Michael Bartlett. clients, as account director Ian Roberts the capability to provide services to
“This has enabled us to retain our explains: “As an example, we recently international companies in a very
independence, our professionalism and tendered for a client in the charity sector personal way and being a smaller,
our focus, and to deliver a consistently who themselves had been the recipient of independent company, we can respond 17
outstanding level of service.” an award. They referred to that award as very quickly to our clients’ needs.”
Bartlett was one of the first their own gold standard and I know that The qualities underpinning Bartlett’s
companies to achieve CII Chartered the fact that we had achieved Chartered Chartered status are also very relevant
Insurance Brokers status in 2007. status resonated with them when we to another growth area for Bartlett –
The award has subsequently proved successfully delivered our pitch.” financial institutions insurance – as
invaluable in attracting new talent to the This is a positive factor cited by Andrew Bartlett, financial institutions
business, including five recent senior many other Chartered firms, along with specialist, explains: “In a sector where
appointments. the parity of esteem it delivers with the cost and quality of insurance is highly
Bartlett’s reputation for professionals such as accountants and variable, a broker’s role as fiduciary
professionalism and integrity were major solicitors. really comes to the fore. We act for fund
factors in attracting Richard Taylor, former Bartlett’s commitment to quality of managers of all shapes and sizes. We’ve
director of Aon’s Leeds branch, to join the service has proven particularly attractive been very successful in winning business
company earlier this year. to multi-national companies, ranging in this sector because our approach,
“Having worked for one of the top from businesses with single overseas which is rooted in technical expertise
three brokers in the world, what attracted offices to global companies with multiple and quality service, typically results in
me to Bartlett was mainly its reputation locations around the world. wholesale improvements for new clients.”
within the industry.” he says. “There’s “We have been successful in winning So what does the Bartlett team think
an emphasis on quality of service multi-national business because of will be the future for Chartered Status?
here that’s reflected in the company’s our close working relationships with “Insurance broking is still seen as
Bartlett chairman a Cinderella when compared to many
Michael Bartlett other professions,” says Michael
and the firm’s
Bartlett. “There is a long way to go, but
Leeds offices
I am hopeful that Chartered status will
eventually become an important quality
benchmark for the sector.”
The Bartlett chairman also believes
that the CII has successfully raised
its profile as a professional body
considerably in recent years. He says
“I am particularly encouraged by the
Institute’s promotion of insurance
career opportunities via the Discover
Risk website and the work of the local
institutes in supporting personal
development.”J