MGA staff offered new roles in outsourcing deal
02/06/2010 09:00:00 by Marketing
Five UK General staff are set to be affected after the underwriting agency signed an outsourcing agreement with Direct Group.
Under the terms, Direct Group will take responsibility for processing non-complex commercial and motor claims. This equates to around 3000 claims a year.
Michael Warren, UK General chief operating officer, told Post that the staff impacted are claims handlers who currently work in Manchester. Under the terms of the agreement they will be offered relocation under transfer of undertakings regulations.
He added: "This is about each organisation doing what it does best. We know that Direct Group is a claims specialist and our experience of them has been good. It is a cost-effective solution, and the policyholder will get a better outcome."
Mr Warren said he believed the employees that decide to move will benefit because they are joining a larger organisation from a claims perspective: "There are far more opportunities there than within a relatively small claims team in an organisation like ours. Geography always plays a part in whether individuals are able to practically move from Manchester to Halifax. It will depend on their individual circumstances and that is what they are all considering now as part of the consultation."
The consultation period started on 18 May and will last for one month.
Mr Warren concluded by reiterating UK General is not looking for a new CEO to replace Tim Rolfe who left the group in March, continuing with Howard Posner as executive chairman.
http://www.postonline.co.uk/post/news/1652135/mga-staff-offered-roles-outsourcing-deal
Claims staff transferred to Direct Group to process motor and commercial policies
27/05/2010 08:30:00 by Marketing
UK General Insurance (UKGI) has signed a deal with Direct Group to outsource its non-complex commercial and motor claims, resulting in a number of staff being transferred over.
UK General Claims staff who currently work in Manchester and are affected by the agreement will be offered new roles in Direct Group at Elland, Halifax, under TUPE regulations.
UKGI claims director Nicola Lightowler said the decision was part of an ongoing strategic review aimed at making UK General one of the UK’s leading niche and specialist insurers among independent brokers.
She said the agreement with Direct Group will deliver further efficiencies without compromising service. “Brokers have told us that rapid and efficient claims processing is a top priority for them, and we are confident Direct Group can help us achieve this for our commoditised claims.”
Lightowler said UK General will retain a small team of technical claims experts to deal with all liability and high value property and motor claims.
“Our technical claims experts will now be able to fully focus on these complex claims, which will further improve UK General’s service to brokers in this key area,” she said.
Direct Group chief executive Derek Coles said the agreement built on an earlier partnership deal (signed in February 2009) between his company and Longhawk before the merger in June last year between Longhawk and Primary General to form UK General Insurance.
He said: “We already administer UK General’s claims in the travel, liability, GAP, creditor and property markets, and we are delighted to extend the relationship further by adding non-complex motor and commercial property claims to our claims administration portfolio.”
He added: “It marks the continued development of our strategy to offer a leading multi-product outsourced claims and administration model across a number of markets.”
http://www.insurancetimes.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=13&storycode=384661
Direct Group Acquires Millennium Insurance
03/06/2008 10:00:00 by Marketing
