Category: News

TL Dallas has seen exponential growth throughout 2023 in Northern Ireland and has made a trio of appointments following a series of new client wins.

TL Dallas, which is based on the Malone Road in Belfast, provides commercial and personal insurance to clients from across the province.

As a result of the significant growth, the firm has appointed Sharon Gibson, George McKee and Robert Stanfield to further enhance client service levels. They each have more than 30 years industry experience.

Divisional Director, Gary Proctor from TL Dallas, said: “Senior Insurance Broker, Sharon joined us from IMIA, having spent the majority of her career with Aviva, she is hugely experienced and a real asset to our team. George, who is also a Senior Insurance Broker, has extensive experience, having worked at several insurance brokers across Northern Ireland. Most recently he has administered the managed insurance services book for McConnell Chartered Surveyors.

“Robert has spent the last 23 years at Towergate Dawson Whyte, which included managing its Dungannon office. Robert, who is a seasoned Account Executive, will be further developing old and new client relationships and is a trusted and respected insurance professional. All three are welcome additions to our team.”

TL Dallas was established in 1919 in Bradford and expanded into Northern Ireland in 2016. The team in Belfast is highly qualified and experienced across all forms of general insurance, both commercial and personal. Clients range from large manufacturers, contractors and property owners to individual households, and everything in between.

In particular, the team has more than 100 years of collective experience in designing and arranging bespoke insurance products for the faith and not for profit sector.

Contact TL Dallas on 02890 380980, email ni@tldallas.com or visit www.tldallas.com

Insurance industry stalwart, Graham Reid has raised £12,000 for charity after completing the Camino de Santiago trek – which is a pilgrimage to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain.

Graham, aged 72, who works for TL Dallas in Glasgow, walked for 775km through hilly terrain over a 45-day period to successfully complete the challenge.

Graham said: “My fascination with the Camino de Santiago trek started 12 years ago. Sister Margaretta from the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary, who are based in Lennoxton near Glasgow and were clients of mine, told me that the 100 mile West Highland Way walk from Glasgow to Fort William, which I completed, was ‘chicken feed’ in comparison to Camino de Santiago! Her comment niggled away at me over the years, and I thought I better give it a go before I got any older!”

Graham was keen to raise money for the Beatson Cancer charity, which had supported both him when he was diagnosed with lymphoma just six months after his wife, Jane, was diagnosed with bowel cancer. Graham added: “We both used the services of Beatson Cancer for radiotherapy treatment and regularly support them at their annual fundraising dinner.

“I don’t like asking people for money, but my colleague Lorraine Scott created a Just Giving page and I am very grateful to her, and to all of those family members, friends, colleagues, clients and business associates who have been so generous. We have raised £6,000 for Beatson Cancer and TL Dallas match-funded that amount, so a further £6,000 will go to the firm’s Charitable Trust, which helps many other fabulous charities across the country.”

Graham set off on the trek in September. He flew to Paris and then started the walk from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port on the French side of the Pyrenees, walking to Roncesvalles on the Spanish side before making his way to Santiago de Compostela through the major cities of Pamplona, Logroño, Burgos and León.

Graham added: “I created a WhatsApp group so I could send updates and pictures of my progress. Unfortunately, Sister Margaretta isn’t on WhatsApp, so I sent her postcards instead! I used a local travel agent, Macs Travel in Glasgow, to plan and book the 40 hotels that I would stay in along the way. My wife kindly escorted me through Glasgow airport – my first challenge – and accompanied me for the first weekand then flew back out for the last two days to fetch me home! One of the trickiest parts of the trek was getting up each morning with my bags packed and delivering them to reception in time for them to be dispatched to the next hotel!

“I walked between 15 and 20 miles a day, apart from when there were some very challenging vertical climbs, so on those days I completed between five and nine miles a day. I had four rest days and treated myself with a few small beers at the end of each day! Even though I walked alone, I met some fascinating people along the way – lots of Americans and Europeans, all with interesting tales to tell.

“Each night I enjoyed what was called a ‘pilgrim’s meal’. The food was fantastic and great value at around 15 to 20 euros for a three-course meal and bottle of wine! No day was ever the same and I was lucky not to have any injuries – just tired legs and feet. I completed the walk at the end of October and would highly recommend it. So much so, that I plan to go back and complete a final section, known as the Camino Finisterre, which is a 90km trail from Santiago to Finisterre, on the western coast of Spain, in spring. This will take me to what pilgrims believed was the ‘end of the world’, which is the furthest west point on mainland Europe.”

Graham has been a valued member of the TL Dallas Group for 12 years. Its Glasgow offices are on West George Street.

Beatson Cancer Charity provides a comprehensive range of wellbeing and specialist services including complementary therapies, specialist health and work support and specialist activities delivered by charity staff and volunteers. 

Any donations can be made here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/graham-reid-1694418313458

TL Dallas has appointed two experienced private client insurance brokers in Edinburgh following a succession of new client wins.

Gayle Halliday and Siobhan Smith both join from a local Edinburgh broker and bolster TL Dallas’ now seven strong Edinburgh team, based in Castle Street.

TL Dallas provides trusted insurance and risk management advice to high-net-worth individuals in Edinburgh, the Lothians and further afield, as well as commercial insurance to companies of all sizes and the not-for-profit sector across Scotland.

Gayle said: “I started my career in the insurance industry 12 years ago and I really enjoy the client service side of the job. Helping people make sure they have cover that is tailored to their individual and sometimes complex needs, is really rewarding. I also work hard to negotiate the best possible terms from insurers and make any mid-term adjustments to policies, adding on new cars, fine art or a whisky collection for example at any stage in the year.”

Siobhan said: “Having worked in the industry for 12 years, I have developed excellent client relationships and enjoy using my technical knowledge to ensure that every client gets the best possible cover. I help clients insure their main homes, holiday homes, and listed and heritage buildings. With cover for any collections, artwork, jewellery and cars, as well as travel insurance, I always make sure renewals are handled smoothly.”

Jim Redmond, Private Clients Manager, said: “Both Gail and Siobhan are experienced insurance professionals who are trusted by clients to insure their most valuable assets. They know how essential it is that all eventualities have been thought through and they work carefully with clients to minimise risk and deliver a bespoke package of cover, which makes them ideal appointments for us.”

TL Dallas provides clients with worldwide cover for their belongings, and protection from events such as identity fraud, loss of money, legal expenses, and cybercrime. It arranges policies that involve no, or very few restrictive conditions or warranties. Policies are arranged on a bespoke basis with the benefits and valuables limits typically well in excess of what can be found under ‘standard’ policies.  The firm does not outsource the claims process and instead has a dedicated in-house claims team, which demonstrates its desire to provide the best possible service to its clients.

TL Dallas is a fourth-generation family and employee-owned business that expanded into Scotland in 1993 when it opened an office in Shetland, drawing on its experience in the shipping and textile industries. In 2000, the company opened a second office in Falkirk, before expanding into both Glasgow and Edinburgh in 2011. Edinburgh is also the city where its founder, Thomas Lessels Dallas OBE (great-grandfather of managing director, Polly Staveley) started his business career in commercial shipping insurance, before founding TL Dallas in Bradford in 1919.

Contact Jim Redmond on 0131 322 2638 or email Jim.Redmond@tldallas.com for more information.

TL Dallas has appointed four new team members within its busy trade credit division, who will be based in Yorkshire and Scotland.

Account executives, Lon Shepherd and Martin Garrow have more than 26 years combined industry experience and join from invoice finance and banking backgrounds. Nat Wright and Poppy Whyte join as apprentices from Leeds Sixth Form College.

Director, Simon Hyde, said: “With insolvencies on the increase and an uncertain economic climate, more businesses than ever before are opting to take out trade credit insurance to protectthemselves against the risks associated with selling goods and services on credit.

“That’s why we have appointed two seasoned finance professionals and also expanded the team with two new talented and enthusiastic apprentices. Martin will be based in Scotland, where we already have a team of six and are actively recruiting for a seventh team member. Lon, Nat and Poppy will all be based at our headquarters in Bradford, and their appointments bolsters our highly experienced trade credit team to 14.”

Lon said: “Having worked for almost nine years in credit control and invoice finance roles managing more than 80 clients, I was keen to continue my career at an independent business with an excellent reputation in the trade credit market. The invoice finance sector is very much allied to credit insurance, with many clients having an invoice finance company noted as the beneficiary of the credit insurance policy, so it made sense to make the move.”

Martin said: “I started my finance career in banking 17 years ago and have worked in bill payment, supply chain finance and sales director roles. With a strong focus on client relationships and the analytical side of business finance, I have always found the trade credit side of insurance appealing and am excited to be joining the leading player in this field.”

Simon added: “We supply trade credit insurance, which protects businesses from the risk of non-payment and late payment, to clients based as far north as Shetland, all the way down to Devon, and everywhere in between!

“We have such a strong team, clients who have been with the firm for decades, as well as many new clients in every sector, including the construction, food, haulage and engineering industries, and these four new appointments will help us to continue servicing them all to the very highest standard.” 

For more details call 01274 465 500 creditbfd@tldallas.com or 01324 717 466 creditdept@tldallas.com and visit www.tldallas.com

A charity that sources, collects, bags up and distributes food and essential household items to more than 1,083 people across North Kirklees in West Yorkshire, as well as providing a host of other essential services, has received a huge helping hand from two insurance firms.

Loving Hands Outreach was set up at the start of the Covid 19 pandemic and became a registered charity in June 2021.  Bev Clark, who works for Bradford-based insurance broking firm, TL Dallas is just one of many Kirklees residents who regularly donates supplies to the charity.

Bev said: “Myself and six friends started donating food and supplies during Covid 19. Seeing first-hand what an amazing difference the outreach team makes is very inspiring and I was keen to do more to help. Our business has a long-standing relationship with insurance company, Aviva. Every year it runs the ‘Broker Community Fund Awards’, where insurance brokers from across the UK can apply for part of the fund, which could be anything from £500 to £20,000 in support of their chosen charity.

“I knew what that amount of money would mean to Loving Hands Outreach Team, so I entered the charity and was really pleased when our nomination was shortlisted! When we found out the charity had been chosen as one of the many winners at an awards ceremony this month, and were to receive £10,000, we were absolutely thrilled! The money will ensure that the amazing impact the charity has on the Kirklees community can go even further.”  

Louisa Weir, from Loving Hands Outreach, said: “As well as addressing the immediate need of families who are struggling by delivering the parcels, we are keen to try and work in a preventative way, and that is where the money from Aviva will really help.

“The health and wellbeing of children is our priority, so in April 2022 we started a cookery club for mums to learn new skills, reduce their feelings of isolation, and make new friends at the same time. Our primary objective was to increase confidence and cooking skills to positively affect the well-being of the whole family. We have run three successful courses to date and have just started our fourth course at the beginning of October. We want to continue to increase health and well-being via learning activities and teach new skills to families, so they can budget and shop more efficiently.

The courses have also helped encourage shared experiences, with attendees meeting other mums and generating new, positive friendships. We now have five new volunteers who were previous participants from the earlier cookery classes, who are helping with other planned projects and supporting other mums.”

The Loving Hands Outreach team deliver 30 to 35 parcels made up of fresh and packaged food, household products and nappies to the Kirklees community at their homes each week.  The emphasis is on supplying as much fresh fruit and vegetables to families as possible. Families are also signposted to other organisations, such as mental health charities, baby banks and other food banks, to enable them to get further help and support within their local area.

Louisa added: “We are so lucky to have had the support from our local community, who have made some wonderful donations, meaning we can also supply struggling families with clothing and small household items such as bedding, towels and kitchen equipment – most of which is collected and delivered by our volunteers. We also work with local community cafes to encourage our families to socialise in a warm, safe space with their children and receive further support in their local area.”

Loving Hands Outreach has been recognised and supported by grants from the Asda Foundation, The National Lottery, One Community, Locala, Arnold Clark, Kirklees Third Sector Leaders, Huddersfield Town Foundation, Dewsbury Soup, Coop and Tesco and now Aviva. 

Louisa added: “We couldn’t operate without the help of these companies, organisations and our wonderful volunteers. We now work directly with the health visitors at Locala to provide further support and advice on topics such as dental care, child behaviour, and weaning after our initial six-week cookery classes. The health visitors also attend coffee socials with participants to chat and offer advice.”

At the start of 2023 Loving Hands Outreach launched a new six-week course which included a mixture of art-based activities with art teachers from the local community, plus support with child-related advice from Locala health visitors. The whole project has been designed to reduce isolation, increase confidence, learn new skills and help people meet new friends. With a simple lunch, based on healthy ingredients suitable for all dietary requirements and a creche, participants can bring their young children with them and meet new people.  A partnership with Huddersfield University is in the pipeline for 2024, hopefully to help families further by running student-led group sessions on wellbeing, resilience and confidence.

Louisa added: “The Aviva funds will be used for further cookery classes and also for our next major project, which is a community garden and grow-your-own-at-home scheme. We will be involving as many families as possible and teaching them how to grow their own vegetables in the community garden, plus supplying them with growbags, tools and knowledge to use at home. This will also teach children about the food cycle and instil knowledge about healthy eating from a young age and we are so grateful to Aviva and Bev at TL Dallas for helping us get the funding.”

Dallas Scott Davey in Lincolnshire is now providing independent insurance broking and risk management services to Lincoln City Football Club, as well as supporting the club as a business partner.

Dallas Scott Davey employees a team of seven from its office at Plowright House on the Riseholme Estate. The firm is headed up by experienced insurance professionals, Ed Davey and Darren Scott, who have almost 50 years combined industry experience.

Dallas Scott Davey provides business and agricultural insurance to a wide range of clients and is part of the TL Dallas Group. From its headquarters in Bradford, the firm also manages all Bradford City Football Club’s insurance needs.

Darren said: “As a huge fan of The Imps, it’s a real career highlight for me to be working with the club. Our wider group already has a similar relationship with Bradford City, where TL Dallas has supported the club for more than 45 years.

“Bradford City and Lincoln City have a massive affinity with each other as very sadly back in 1985, during the fire disaster at Bradford City’s Valley Parade, 56 fans lost their lives – 54 from Bradford and two from Lincoln. Many others were also injured, and since then both clubs hold dear the memories of these fans and hold events, like a recent veterans’ match between the two clubs to raise funds in their honour.”

Adam Chantrey, from Lincoln City, said: “We chose Dallas Scott Davey because Darren, Ed and the team are clearly very passionate about what they do and are based locally to us, so they can provide an in-person and highly experienced service. We have a number of complicated insurance risks which DSD have run through in great depth, to make sure we are covered as comprehensively as possible, and we are confident that we are in safe hands.”

Dallas Scott Davey opened in Lincolnshire at the end of 2021, and the firm plans to double in size over the next two years, recruiting even more account handlers and brokers to meet client demand.

Ed Davey, director at Dallas Scott Davey, said: “As we celebrate our second anniversary, the business is in a great position to continue growing and supporting businesses, the farming community and sports clubs across Lincolnshire. This partnership with Lincoln City FC will hopefully be a long and fruitful one, and we are really excited to be working with the club.”

Rob Gill, who celebrated 30 years with TL Dallas this year, explains the benefits of using an insurance broker with an in-house claims division.

Rob joined the firm as a claims assistant when he was just 17, and he has been continually supported with his impressive career progression over the years. He epitomises the firm’s core values of loyalty and excellent client service and care.

“At T L Dallas, we believe that our dedicated in-house claims division provides our clients with many benefits over other competitors, who may outsource this service.

Our claims division comprises very experienced and well-respected handlers who boast over 100 years insurance claims knowledge between them. This enables us to offer all clients very high levels of service covering all aspects of insurance and different types of claims.

We believe it is essential that our client’s feel supported at a time when this is often needed the most.  We take ownership of and responsibility for every claim to ensure the best possible outcome is achieved – this allows our clients to concentrate on their business or day-to-day life, whilst we manage the claims process.

A collaborative approach is taken, with the claims division working closely with our account executives and brokers throughout the year to proactively help reduce risks and therefore claims.

Our figures for 2022 reveal that the majority of claims we dealt with were for motor, fire, business interruption and employee injury. All these claims have been analysed and recommendations made by the claims team to the broking team, so that clients can implement measures to mitigate these risks in the future.

When it comes to a client with a fleet of 50 vehicles for example, our claims division will review accident data recorded during the policy year and previous years to identify frequency, trends and any patterns, like a driver having several accidents, the same kind of accidents occurring, or even simply accidents occurring on the same day. Working together with our account executives and brokers, we can assist in reducing the risk, helping widen the markets interest in providing cover and lowering premium costs.

Other benefits of our in-house claims division include:

A Personalised Service:

We have built up trusting and loyal relationships with our clients over the years, which enables us to tailor our services to meet the individual requirements needed by clients, whether it be a business or as an individual.

We pride ourselves in offering the best possible claims service to all our clients, no matter what the claim is for. We understand that ‘a claim’ can be a very difficult time – for many different reasons – and it is our job to make the journey as easy as possible.

We are extremely proud to offer service levels consisting of same day response (next day absolute latest in very limited cases), which has been highly praised by many Insurers and their external auditors.

A Faster Claims Process:

Our claims division know the claims market and can direct claims to the correct area – many Insurers split a claim up into different heads of claim and their claims departments can be located in different parts of the UK or offshore.  We have direct access to these departments, as well as key contacts where we can escalate and quickly resolve any issues.

We are trusted by our scheme Insurers and have been awarded delegated authority to handle and settle claims up to certain values on their behalf. This avoids any delays having to send documentation to Insurers and most decisions can be made instantly without having to wait.

Advocacy:

Our in-house claims team act as an advocate for clients during a claim. We negotiate with the insurance company on our client’s behalf to ensure the best possible settlement or outcome is achieved. The team’s expertise and understanding of insurance policies help maximise the client’s claim amount.”

Here is what some of our clients have to say about us:

“Please make your managing director aware of two members of the TL Dallas team who we have been dealing with. They always go beyond the call of duty for us, or perhaps this is the excellent level of service all your staff offer?! Recently, when our claim for subsidence appeared stalled, your team member took on board the situation and chased things for us. They got the claim moving in the right direction. How lucky you are to have built the business, not forgetting your roots.”

“I just had a message from Mr G to say how impressed he was with your handling of his claim – thank you.’

After opening an office less than a year ago in Cockermouth, TL Dallas has appointed Heather Wood and also plans to recruit several new team members over the coming years, as well as offering apprenticeships to young people in the local area.

Heather will work alongside experienced insurance brokers, Lynne Taylor, Emma Irving and Philip Jackson, and in total the four brokers have over 130 years combined industry experience specialising in general commercial insurance and agricultural business insurance.

Heather has worked in the insurance industry for more than 30 years, but most recently worked at a family business based in Cockermouth. Philip Jackson said: “Heather is a former colleague and we’re delighted and privileged that she has decided to re-join the industry and to work with the three of us again. She will be a huge asset to our business.”

Lynne Taylor added: “Heather believes that a strong community presence and a local service is of the upmost importance to all businesses in Cumbria, which fits perfectly with our values at TL Dallas.”

All four industry stalwarts previously worked for many years at C H Jeffries, which was the largest independent insurance broker in Cumbria, before it was acquired by a national firm and went through several mergers and subsequent acquisitions.

Emma said: “Since opening the office in the heart of Cumbria we have won many clients who want a personal and bespoke face to face service, and we are enjoying providing our insurance broking services to all types of local businesses in every sector.”

Philip added: “As TL Dallas has 11 other offices across the UK, our team and our clients in Cumbria can also benefit from the experience of the wider network, as well as the range of other TL Dallas services on offer too. The fact we have an in-house claims team is another major benefit.”   

Lynne added: “As we grow our client base, we hope to attract other insurance professionals to our business, as well as encouraging talented youngsters to pursue a career in insurance, via our renowned apprenticeship scheme.”

Polly Staveley, managing director at TL Dallas, said: “Cumbria is a really important area for our business and with such an experienced and well thought-of team at the helm, we are confident that we can grow the business and create more jobs for local people.”

Tim Mackenzie and Jim Redmond are part of a team of seven who arrange both private and commercial insurance at Edinburgh based insurance brokers, TL Dallas & Co Ltd (TL Dallas).

The team has a wealth of industry experience, and from its base on Castle Street, acts as trusted insurance and risk management advisers to high net worth individuals in Edinburgh, the Lothians and further afield, as well as companies of all sizes and the not- for-profit sector across Scotland.

Jim said: “TL Dallas is a fourth-generation family business that expanded into Scotland in 1993 when we opened an office in Shetland to draw on our experience in the shipping and textile industries. In 2000, we opened a second office in Falkirk, before expanding into both Glasgow and Edinburgh in 2011.

Crucially, Edinburgh is also the city where our founder, Thomas Lessels Dallas OBE (great-grandfather of our managing director, Polly Staveley) started his business career in commercial shipping insurance, before founding TL Dallas in Bradford in 1919.

For our typical private clients, we arrange home insurance, as well as covering any holiday homes, art, jewellery, property portfolios and high value cars. It’s essential that all eventualities have been thought through and we work carefully with clients to minimise risk and deliver a bespoke package of cover.”

According to insurance company Ecclesiastical, one in five crimes experienced by high net worth clients occur at unoccupied second homes. Jim added: “Making sure the right cover is in place for all properties – not just a main residence – is vital, and having one renewal date for all properties helps make things seamless. It’s essential that clients are aware of the extent of their cover and any obligations they may have, such as ensuring that second homes are inspected regularly, heating is maintained over the winter months, and any high value cars have the correct trackers fitted – with their subscriptions maintained. This is all part of the service we provide.

Rising values of collectables including wine, art, jewellery and classic cars make up-to-date valuations essential, so we ensure the right questions are asked. For example, people may be unaware that with some insurance, their valuables are not covered when they are away from their main residence or – not appreciate that certain household policies actually include travel cover up to the age of 75 (or even 80) and that it can also be tailored to include the client’s cars, subject to certain criteria. Alternatively, an accompanying policy can be arranged to cater for these.

Another problem could be that homes are not insured for the correct re-build value in today’s market. Material and labour costs have all risen recently and where listed buildings are involved, repair bills can be significantly higher – plus clients often want to chose which contractors or craftsmen are used to work on their home after an unfortunate event such as a fire or flood. That’s why a full and thorough review of all assets must be carried out, risk management advice provided, and a portfolio of cover offered that’s right for the individual client.

Clients may also need worldwide cover for their belongings, and protection from events such as identity fraud, loss of money, legal expenses, and cybercrime. We can arrange policies that involve none, or very few restrictive conditions or warranties. In addition, these policies usually provide generous benefits and limits of cover well in excess of the ‘standard’ market.

Finally, should the worst happen, our clients can rely on our in-house claims team. We do not divert claims to third party call centres as we know what a frustrating experience this can be. When this process is outsourced, the claimant can be treated as just a name and number, and not a much-valued policy holder. Having our own claims team in-house means a better all-round experience for our clients.”

Contact Jim Redmond on 0131 322 2638 or email Jim.Redmond@tldallas.com to arrange a free review
and discuss any insurance requirements. TL Dallas: 11 Castle St, Edinburgh EH2 3AH

TL Dallas, has appointed a highly experienced corporate account executive following a strong first quarter for its commercial division.

Sara Chapman has worked in the insurance industry for 35 years and has been in broking for the last 26 of those. Based in Leeds for most of her career, Sara has worked for both independent brokers and larger corporates and has many long-standing clients from across multiple industry sectors.  

Sara said: “I have worked for many clients in the education sector, as well as charitable organisations over the years, but I don’t specialise in just one sector or solely the Yorkshire region. With previous clients based from Kent to Northumberland and everywhere in between, I plan to grow my account portfolio at TL Dallas across the whole of the UK.

“Every client is different, be it a multi-academy education trust, a manufacturing business, or an individual with a varied commercial property portfolio, each needs a trusted insurance broker that understands their business and can ensure they have the most appropriate levels of cover. They also need to feel reassured that should the worst happen, their broker is on hand to help and because TL Dallas has its own in-house claims division, this role really appealed to me.

“Another reason I chose to join TL Dallas is because it is on such a positive growth path. The firm has recently opened three more regional offices in North Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Cumbria and many former colleagues have made the move to the family and employee-owned business. With a great reputation and admirable values, I knew it was the right move for me.”

TL Dallas has a 97-strong commercial team, which is based across the firm’s 12 offices throughout the UK offering a full range of insurance services. Sara will be based at the firm’s head office in Bradford.

Commercial Managing Director, Tim Mortimer, said: “As we retain our long-standing clients, and win new ones, we are keen to recruit talented, experienced brokers like Sara to the business. In the last three years we have grown our commercial team by 43 and delivered 17% revenue growth in the first quarter, whilst never losing sight of what sets us apart from our competitors. We are proud of our independence and are dedicated to our people and our clients. We believe Sara will be a valuable asset to our commercial team and welcome her to the TL Dallas family.”

Is it better to buy insurance cover through a broker or go direct to the insurance company, to secure the best policy and price?

As a longstanding independent insurance broker, you can probably guess what our answer is! However, our clients say the same. They value our broking service and the way we get to grips with their individual needs, be that for personal or commercial insurance. We always strike a balance between the most comprehensive and cost-effective policies to make sure clients are covered correctly by a broker they trust.

It’s also important to note that for commercial insurance, a broker is essential. It’s mainly car and home insurance that can be sourced direct from an insurance company. However, we actually insure thousands of homes and cars on a standalone basis and as part of a wider package of cover for clients.  

Here are just a few reasons why our clients believe we add value….

The right cover – In today’s complex and constantly changing insurance market, selecting the right insurance policy and type of cover can be a daunting task. With so many options available, having an experienced and knowledgeable professional on your side, who genuinely understands your individual requirements and the industry you operate in, means your cover will match your needs, and you won’t be paying for cover that you don’t need.

Unbiased advice – As an independent broker, we search the entire market for the most suitable cover, rather than having relationships with only a select few insurance companies that pay the highest commissions. This ensures our clients benefit from the best deals and products, whether it’s from multi-national insurers or niche companies that specialise in specific markets.

Choice and flexibility – Because we work across the entire insurance market, we can offer an unrivalled level of choice when it comes to selecting the right insurer and product. Also, as one of the founding members of UNA – the National Alliance of Independent Brokers – we have enhanced buying power and access to bespoke products and services.

A personal service – In a world where buying online, often without any human interaction or reassurance has become the norm, we are committed to being available to our clients over the phone and face to face, to talk through in person each renewal, well before its due. Our network of 12 local UK offices, as well as dedicated sector specialists, means we still offer a completely personal service. With a team that genuinely know and understand our clients and their requirements, we are trusted advisors – it’s not just about having the right cover but helping businesses solve their problems.

Expertise and experience – We’ve been arranging insurance cover since 1919 and this level of experience and insight gives us a better understanding of the market than most. In addition, we’re up to date with all the latest developments in the insurance world, like cyber insurance, so our clients can rest-assured they are getting the best advice, from a broker that always has its finger on the pulse.

Cost-effective – We fully appreciate the market is price sensitive so we always strive to combine a competitive price with a high level of coverage and can often negotiate better rates and terms for our clients.

In-house claims team – Claims are the sharp end of our profession. Ultimately, it is only during a claim where all the work your broker has done, selecting the insurer and arranging the cover, is actually proven! When our clients need to make a claim, we can liaise and negotiate with the insurer on their behalf, to make sure clients get what they’re entitled to and minimise any disruption they face.

At TL Dallas we are proud to be an independent insurance broker, with a heritage that spans more than 100 years. Our success and longevity are based on our ability to always provide clients with the highest level of service and support. Our family business is owned by its management and staff, and we are all hugely dedicated to our business and our clients.

Whether you need personal or business insurance, we have the expertise and experience to find the most appropriate cover no matter what industry you operate in or where you are located. Contact us now to find out more.

An all-inclusive sports team that is made up of both disabled and abled bodied players is hoping to attract new members and fans, when it hosts a home game at Sedbergh Sports Centre this weekend, which is free to attend.

The Bradford Bulls wheelchair rugby league team is playing Rochdale at 10.30am and the match is free to watch, thanks to the sponsorship provided by TL Dallas, one of the UK’s leading independent insurance broking and risk management companies.

The team was formed in January 2009 and brings together both able bodied and disabled players, of any gender, over the age of 12. The team has had a great deal of success over the years and is currently playing in the Championship Division, which they won last year.

Sandie Wright from TL Dallas said: “Anyone who watched the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup last year will know what a fast and exciting sport this is! It’s a great sport to be involved with as players and fans. My husband and both children play in the team and my mum volunteers with the organisational side of things.

“Our sponsorship will enable friends, family, colleagues and everyone from our local community to come and enjoy the game for free in a comfortable seated stand, where everyone can get a great view of all the action!”

The Bradford Bulls wheelchair rugby league team is part of the Bradford Bulls Foundation, and it provides weekly training sessions as well as working with many schools, colleges and communities across the Bradford District and beyond to raise awareness of the sport.

Sandie added: “A great deal of time and effort goes into not only producing a competitive team but also the set-up of the matches and training. The support from a dedicated band of volunteers who help with transport, maintenance, gameday and administrative duties is phenomenal, and we are so pleased to be backing this event.”

For details of the match contact: Sandie.Wright@tldallas.com

The Cumbrian office of TL Dallas, which launched just five months ago, has expanded with the appointment of Philip Jackson.

Philip is Cumbrian born and bred and has been in the insurance industry for 40 years this August. He joins TL Dallas from Marsh Commercial.

Philip started his career in insurance at CH Jeffries in 1983, which went onto become one of the largest independent brokers in England, before being sold multiple times. Philip said: “Having experienced first-hand what can happen when an independent firm is sold to bigger, corporate businesses, with local teams stripped out and the hiving off of certain types of businesses to central hubs, I was keen to join another truly independent business like TL Dallas.

“I take great pride in my work and wanted to be part of a business with values, purpose, accountability, and integrity and can offer a local service. Making a move after so many years was a big decision, but when I met the team at TL Dallas there was a palpable sense of calm, professional assuredness, a friendly and warm welcome and a feeling that I’d met a group of very professional and capable people.”

During the first 20 years of Philip’s carer, he mainly insured traditional Cumbrian industries including farms, haulage firms, contracting businesses, as well as clients in the motor trade, manufacturing and charity sectors. Philip added: “As well as advising and arranging insurance cover, I was also responsible for handling any claims. I’m very passionate about providing a hands on, personal claims service, and being allowed to do this was a key driver in joining TL Dallas, but I also benefit from an in-house claims team.”

In the past two decades Philip developed an interest in specific sectors including theatres both touring and venues, along with commercial laundries, manufacturing, all aspects of the charity sector, whilst maintaining and growing his farming client base. Philip said: “My previous client base took me from Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh, through England to London and across to the Isle of Man, but I’ve never lost the original love of farming insurance and related Cumbrian businesses, which I’m looking forward to building on at TL Dallas.”

Philip joins two former colleagues at TL Dallas’s Cumbrian office, Lynne Taylor and Emma Irving, who have 60 years combined industry experience. Lynne said: “We are really pleased to have Philip join our team. We’re working with commercial, corporate, and agricultural clients and believe that Philip’s appointment will appeal to clients old and new.”

Polly Staveley, managing director at TL Dallas, said: “It’s an exciting proposition for clients to have Emma, Lynne and now Philip based in the heart of Cumbria. Their combined experience is extraordinary and their expert knowledge and dedication to a first-class service to clients is admirable. We plan to continue investing and growing in Cumbria and are committed to providing clients with access to our wider network of insurance and financial services through this team.”

To support our continued growth, we are looking for new team members to join our group.

Business (SME) Broker – Bradford

Corporate Broker – Bradford

Property Owner Scheme Underwriter – Bradford

Corporate Executive – London

Private Client team members

If you are interested in working for a stable, independent broker with opportunities across the UK, that values its people highly, please email: careers@tldallas.com

TL Dallas is expanding after appointing two insurance brokers that specialise in the health and care industry.

Account executives, Rico Young and James Bright have joined TL Dallas from Marsh Commercial. They have almost 25 years’ combined industry experience and will be spearheading the firm’s health and care specialism.

Rico said: “After completing my business and economic degree, I started my career in general commercial insurance at SME Insurance Services Limited, before being headhunted by Bluefin Insurance, who were later acquired by Marsh Commercial. Gaining a promotion to account executive in 2018, I managed and grew a book worth £1.5m of gross written premium, with a diverse client portfolio. Experienced at insuring care homes, domiciliary care providers, doctors and dental surgeries, I also advise clients on ancillary policies including motor-fleet, property, management liability and cyber insurance to ensure any potential gaps in cover are addressed. I was keen to join an independent broker again and TL Dallas’s reputation for personal client service and caring for their people really stood out for me, as their values align with my own.”

James said: “I started my insurance career in personal lines insurance in 2005. I then moved to the commercial sector in 2013, working for Bluefin Insurance, which later becoming Marsh Commercial, taking on a new business role for care sector clients. In 2016 I started a management role focussed on growing the care department, looking after a team of account executives and brokers, while still liaising with key clients. In 2019, I went onto replicate the successes of the care division, setting up a new business department for the SME team, whilst also dealing with most types of commercial business, before returning to head up the health and care department in 2021.

“I really enjoy the work mitigating the risks that businesses face in the health and care sector, including medical malpractice and professional indemnity. I also work with clients to provide them with other vital cover, including management liability, cyber, engineering and property insurance. I’m thrilled to be joining TL Dallas. The firm is renowned in the industry for supporting its people and has an excellent team of talented brokers working across 12 UK offices.”

Polly Staveley, managing director at TL Dallas, said: “‘James and Rico are professional, technical brokers who have been working in the health and care sector for over 20 years. They understand the challenges faced by the sector and have access to specialist insurers that cover a wide range of insurance options for our clients.

“They will help us grow our market share in the health and care sector working with individual and large-scale multi-site care homes, children’s homes, foster care agencies, hospices, retirement homes, domiciliary care and supported living providers, charities, dental practices and GP surgeries, as well as with providers of complementary and alternative therapies.”

Head of commercial at TL Dallas, Tim Mortimer, added: “Our commercial division is going from strength to strength with a 15% uplift in business over the last financial year. Welcoming Rico and James to the team is a real highlight for us. Both are dedicated professional brokers who put clients first and have the technical knowledge and expertise to get the best policies in place for clients.”

Contact James Bright on 07984 143885 / James.Bright@tldallas.com or Rico Young on 07984 143758 / Rico.Young@tldallas.com, or contact the office on 01274 465 500 / care@tldallas.com

The Booksellers Association (BA) has reported that the number of independent bookshops in the UK and Ireland has grown for the sixth consecutive year, and the rise is something insurance broker, TL Dallas is also seeing, as enquires increase for book related insurance products. 

TL Dallas provides a suite of specialist insurance policies to hundreds of bookshops throughout the UK. It has worked with bookshop owners, book dealers, book binders and private collectors for over 30 years, and also specialises in insuring unusual collectable items, including gaming cards.

The figures from the BA reveal that the number of independent bookshop members at the end of 2022 grew to 1,072 shops, up from 1,027 in 2021, and the lowest point of 867 in 2016. This marks a decade of growth, following 20 years of decline.

TL Dallas is reporting an increase in the number of new policies it has provided to independent bookshops, in particular. Molly Jones, from TL Dallas in London, said: “We feel privileged to have protected hundreds of bookshop owners, book dealers, book binders and private collectors for so many years, and it’s an area that we feel very passionate about.

“We have seen a steady increase in the number of new bookshop owning clients taking out policies with our firm over the last few years, which is great news, and many are independently owned.

“We find that independent bookshop owners want to work with an insurance broker who understands how important their business is and the unique challenges they face. Our bespoke approach, as well as our knowledgeable and experienced team, alongside an in-house claims team, is proving very popular amongst independent bookshop owners.”

Polices typically bought by bookshop owners include cover for buildings, stock, contents, goods in transit, book fairs, other locations, business interruption, public liability, employers liability and money.

TL Dallas is the approved insurance provider of the Provincial Booksellers Fairs Association (PBFA), a national organisation that organises second-hand and antique book fairs in the UK, with over 400 members offering rare books, prints, manuscripts, maps and more.

Contact TL Dallas in London on 020 7426 5330, email molly.jones@tldallas.com or visit https://www.tldallas.com/ for more details.

An independent insurance broking and risk management specialist is expanding into Cumbria. TL Dallas, which already has 11 UK offices, has appointed seasoned insurance professionals, Lynne Taylor and Emma Irving, who have 60 years combined industry experience, to head up the office. 

TL Dallas in Cumbria offers general commercial, corporate and agricultural business insurance and will be based on the Dovenby Hall Estate, near Cockermouth. 

Lynne began her insurance career at General Accident in Workington and worked in personal and commercial underwriting including claims. After a period as a commercial and farm underwriter at Provincial in Carlisle, Lynne was offered a position at C H Jeffries in Cockermouth 28 years ago. She became a broking manager for the firm’s three offices and latterly, for more than a decade, worked as an account executive across the commercial, corporate and agricultural sectors.  

Emma joined C H Jeffries 24 years ago, in the firm’s commercial business unit, which she helped develop into a substantial core part of the business. Emma then took on the team leader role, whilst also developing as an account executive, with her own book of commercial clients. 

C H Jeffries was the largest independent insurance broker in Cumbria before it was bought by Willis, which sold to Smart & Cook and was later bought by Bluefin.  A subsequent merged company with Jelf Insurance was then purchased by Marsh Commercial.

Emma said: “C H Jeffries was very customer focussed. When TL Dallas announced plans to expand into Cumbria, their core values instantly resonated with both Lynne and myself. 

“We have a diverse mix of businesses in Cumbria, and we believe that essentially Cumbrian businesses continue to want to work with people that they know and trust and prefer face to face contact. Of course, we use all the latest technological advancements to facilitate a personal service, genuine expertise and in-depth industry and local market knowledge. 

“We are looking forward to working with the rest of the TL Dallas team and can’t wait to welcome clients from Cumbria and beyond, as well as growing our team here.” 

Polly Staveley, managing director at TL Dallas, said: “Both Lynne and Emma have excellent industry reputations and they know the Cumbrian market inside and out. Their attention to detail, client focus and impressive industry expertise will appeal to clients keen to work with the pair, whilst also benefiting from our wider network and services.” 

TL Dallas is a fourth-generation family firm, owned by its management and staff that has been in business for more than 100 years. Renowned for its personal broking service and really getting to grips with its clients’ needs, TL Dallas strikes a balance between the most comprehensive and cost-effective policies. 

The company has a team of 145 and offers insurance services spanning commercial, personal, trade credit, books and collectables, farming and agricultural, specialist avian influenza (bird flu) and demolition contractor, as well as due diligence, risk management and independent financial services. TL Dallas also has an in-house claims consultancy division.  

Contact Lynne Taylor on 07496 326 448 / Lynne.Taylor@tldallas.com or Emma Irving on 07496 325 138 / Emma.Irving@tldallas.com.

TL Dallas is expanding in Glasgow following a flurry of contract wins, including clients in the renewables, technology and life science sectors. As a result, TL Dallas has appointed Iwona Siwik, who has a first-class honours degree in risk management from Glasgow University and several years industry experience as a corporate broker. She will support the commercial team, which includes Douglas Lapsley and Fiona Parker. There will be further team expansion this summer with another senior appointment.

Bernard Dunn, from TL Dallas in Glasgow, said: “As well as providing commercial insurance services to clients in the manufacturing, property, construction, food and drink sectors, we have developed a niche service specifically for the renewables sector and now have a significant number of hydro scheme clients.

“Glasgow is a real powerhouse for early stage high-growth technology and life science companies, and we have been privileged to guide a number of new businesses starting up in these sectors with specialist insurance advice, through our close working relationships with major Scottish Universities.

“In addition to commercial insurance, our due diligence consultancy service, which provides an insurance health check review to investment firms acquiring equity stakes in businesses, is continuing to grow, and we plan to recruit further this year, as we continue to work with our valued clients and win new ones.”

TL Dallas is a fourth-generation family business with 11 offices across the UK, included its Glasgow office on St Vincent Street. The team of 10 in Glasgow are led by experienced insurance brokers Bernard Dunn and Tim Mackenzie, who have more than 70 years combined industry experience.

The TL Dallas Glasgow and Edinburgh teams are all active in their local business communities. Douglas is on the board of the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and a director of the Merchants House of Glasgow. Tim, Bernard and Fiona are board members of various charities and not for profit organisations. TL Dallas is a member of Family Business United (FBU) Scotland, and proud sponsors of The Glasgow Accies Rugby Club in Glasgow.