Eye on Insurance
Pictured at the official opening of Lockton’s new premises in Belfast is (L-R), Gary Ennis, Lockton Belfast Managing Partner, Dame Mary Peters, Mike Hammond, CEO Lockton Companies International and Chris Brown, Partner Lockton LLP Board Member, Responsible for UK.
LOCKTON BELFAST CELEBRATE A DECADE OF SUCCESS WITH £700,000 INVESTMENT IN NEW STATE OF THE ART OFFICES The Belfast operation of the world’s largest privately owned, independent insurance brokerage firm, Lockton Companies, has two reasons to celebrate.
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hey have recently moved into their new ultra-modern offices in the Clarence West building, just off Belfast’s Bedford Street, as celebrations kick off for their 10th consecutive year of financial growth - which has been no easy feat over the last decade highlighted by recession, stagnation and austerity for many of its rivals in the industry. They opened their doors in Belfast more than 30 years ago as Bradstock Blunt and then Alexander Forbes and became part of the global Lockton family in 2006. With many of the original team members still in place at Lockton Belfast, the team has seen a full decade of growth more than tripling revenues along the way – an astonishing achievement in this time of global economic downturn. Lockton is now a key player in the insurance industry in Northern
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Ireland and the area’s largest commercial and business broker. Lockton’s mission remains focused on growth, aiming to increase revenue by double digits every year. The company prides itself in serving every aspect of the NI business community – from global companies to the smallest SME. The results speak for themselves as Lockton Belfast has doubled their workforce over the last 10 years while maintaining client retention at 98%. Lockton Belfast is now celebrating their success with a move to stunning new offices at Clarence Street West. Working closely with local interiors firm 1080 over the past 18 months to find and create an exceptional space for their team for the next 10 years of financial success, the new offices are offering an inspiring, colourful workspace
well-suited for a tight-knit and vibrant group of associates and represent an investment of £700,000 into their Belfast team. Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister, Jonathan Bell said: “Northern Ireland’s financial services sector is growing in confidence. Over the past 30 years, Lockton has become an integral part of Northern Ireland’s vibrant international financial services sector and I am particularly impressed that the Belfast office has become an international ‘hub’ for Lockton. Since 2006 Lockton has doubled its workforce in Northern Ireland, and these new offices will help to put the company in a position to keep growing in the coming years.” “We wanted an office space that would reflect our position as Northern Ireland’s leading business insurance broker,” explained Lockton Belfast Managing Partner Gary Ennis. “Our founder Jack Lockton laid down his philosophies for how the business should be run and
this included a statement that our associates are our greatest asset. We wanted to deliver staff facilities that showed as much investment in them as we have in our clients. Now we have state of the art meeting rooms and AV that will enable us to do more for our client in terms of seminars and training.” Gary explained: “The team has taken to the new office like ducks to water. We have always had a great spirit in the office but the standard of our new surroundings has created a fantastic environment.” To cement their commitment to further growth Lockton Belfast has also committed to a 10-year lease on their new offices.
For further information on Lockton’s Belfast office visit www.lockton.com or follow Lockton Belfast on facebook.com/LocktonBelfast or Twitter @LocktonBelfast