Chester-based insurance broker Daulby Read is reaping the rewards of maintaining its local focus, according to Director, Steve Daulby. The firm has picked up several major clients in as many weeks, all of whom wanted to benefit from dealing with a local adviser.

The first client property company, Volksave, previously dealt with a different local firm, until the broker sold off its book of smaller clients to a South East-based business.

Steve explained: “There’s an industry-wide trend for local high-street brokers either to sell up completely to national chains, or to sell on the business they get from smaller clients, which they see as being less profitable.”

Talking about his company’s experience Rick Barry of Volksave commented: “Our previous broker made a decision not to deal with a client of our size and moved us to a broker in Kent. I felt let down as we had been a client of theirs for years, but we are now pleased to deal with Daulby Read who are committed to looking after their clients locally.”

Steve continued: “Stories like this are becoming increasingly common, but at Daulby Read our focus remains very much on being a community broker and supporting local businesses.  We value all our clients equally, and all our clients, small and large, benefit from the same level of advice and service.

This approach is reflected in Daulby Read’s second major client win, specialist recruitment firm Quest Project Personnel. Quest Project Personnel previously dealt with a Midlands broker, but as Director Rob Hall explained, they decided to move to a local broker: “We really wanted to work with a local broker interested in forging a long-term relationship with us. Daulby Read showed that commitment by visiting our offices to make sure they understood our business properly and ended up saving us around 40% on our premiums. Naturally we are delighted by this result.”

Steve Daulby commented: “Although we do have a few clients further afield, having a high proportion of local clients helps us to do our job better.  Like in Quest Project Personnel’s case, it means we can visit clients easily when they need us and people really seem to appreciate this level of service, particularly as times remain tough for many businesses.”

In addition to Volksave and Quest, Daulby Read has also started working with a well known Chester estate agent which switched from a Manchester-based broker.

Daulby Read Ltd specialises in commercial insurance solutions and is a Member of Broker Network, the UK’s leading network for independent insurance brokers. Broker Network negotiates centrally to give its Members access to exclusive deals and favourable rates, the benefits of which are passed on to a broker’s customers.