AbbeyAutoline is celebrating its first anniversary as Northern Ireland’s largest insurance broker* and after an incredibly busy year the business has remained buoyant with commercial retention sitting at 95%.

Created after a merger between Abbey Insurance and Autoline, AbbeyAutoline is part of the Prestige Insurance Holdings Group and has quickly become a market leader in Northern Ireland.

Abbey and Autoline were two of Northern Ireland’s most established insurance brokers, so while the name may be new, AbbeyAutoline can call upon over 45 years of industry experience.

There are also plans to grow the 430-strong team with a number of Commercial Account Executives having joined the company recently and further recruitment planned, especially in the West of the Province.

AbbeyAutoline has also appointed a new Commercial Director with Jackie Elliott joining the team. Jackie brings with her a wealth of experience having worked in the commercial insurance industry in Northern Ireland for almost 20 years.

Managing Director, Julie Gibbons said she is delighted, not only by how her merging teams came together in a seamless manner but also by how all staff met the challenges presented by Covid-19.

She said: “It’s been quite a year, but the merger has been a real success and that is testament to the hard work of everyone at AbbeyAutoline.

“Bringing two companies with such distinct identities together as one new business was always going to be tough but to do it during the unprecedented conditions of a global pandemic has required incredible amounts of resilience from everyone.

“Also, during the past year our work in championing gender diversity and inclusion was recognised as Prestige Holdings was awarded the Bronze Diversity Mark.

“Promoting a diverse and welcoming working environment is something everyone at AbbeyAutoline is committed to. Our people are our greatest assets, and we want to help them develop and grow with the business, after all people buy from people.

“Bringing together two established companies has been good news for our customers as well. As Northern Ireland’s largest broker* we work with a larger panel of insurers meaning we can find the best policies to suit the needs of our customers.”

Both Abbey Insurance and Autoline were well known for their personal lines such as car, home, van and taxi policies which together with Autoline’s well-established Agri, business and corporate insurance offering, mean that the merged business offers the complete range of insurance products. Business, corporate and Agri are all areas AbbeyAutoline is continuing to expand and grow.

Julie said: “The business is in a good place, we have come through a very demanding twelve months and we know we can rise to the hardest of challenges.

“We take great pride in the fact that we have been able to help our clients during lockdown and have been there when they needed us most. Now, as we emerge from the pandemic, we are focussed on growing and expanding the business.

To find out how AbbeyAutoline can tailor a policy to suit your insurance needs, visit www.abbeyautoline.co.uk