Esure
Encyclopedia
Esure is an internet
and telephone based insurance
company based in Reigate
, Surrey
, England
. It also has offices in Manchester
and Glasgow
. esure was founded in 1999 by businessman Peter Wood
, who also launched the Direct Line
insurance company for the Royal Bank of Scotland
.
esure is now one of the largest providers of motor insurance in the UK and also offers home, pet and travel insurance. The company focuses on lower risk customers, offering cheaper premiums for customers with a current no claims bonus for its car insurance products.
esure car insurance also incorporates Sainsbury's Car Insurance, as well as Halifax Car Insurance. First Alternative in the past offered quotes to higher risk customers, however, this has been phased out, and they now offer a similar product to esure/Sainsbury's, etc.
In 2006 Peter Wood also Launched the highly successful insurance company "Sheilas' Wheels
", which is close to becoming the fastest selling insurance company in the UK. Sheilas' Wheels focuses on women drivers but does provide cover to anyone.
esure is also known for its high profile commercials with Michael Winner
, used from 2002 to 2005 and resuming in 2007. The adverts spawned the phrase, "Calm down dear, it's a commercial". Winner was temporarily replaced by Mr. Mouse, a blue animated mouse character with an American accent. Mr. Mouse was designed by Sian Vickers and Chris Wilkins
, who came out of retirement at the request of Peter Wood
, the founder of esure. The pair were responsible for the Smash Martians
as well as the four-wheeled red telephone used by Direct Line
in their publicity. Mr. Mouse's catchphrases include "Insurance at mices' prices!" and "Go on, give us a click!". Mr Mouse was voiced by the actor and arts critic Kerry Shale
.
On 21 November 2007, it was revealed that insurance firm esure is to replace E.ON
as the sponsor of ITV National Weather
bulletins. The two-year deal, rumoured to be worth £10 million, was negotiated by Carat Sponsorship and began on January 1, 2008.
Lloyds Banking Group
sold its 70% stake in Esure to Esure Group Holdings, led by Peter Wood on 11 February 2010. The share was valued at around £185 million.
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
and telephone based insurance
Insurance
In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
company based in Reigate
Reigate
Reigate is a historic market town in Surrey, England, at the foot of the North Downs, and in the London commuter belt. It is one of the main constituents of the Borough of Reigate and Banstead...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It also has offices in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
and Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. esure was founded in 1999 by businessman Peter Wood
Peter Wood (businessman)
Peter Wood, CBE is an English entrepreneur, most notable as the founder of the Direct Line and Esure insurance companies. He is the 438th wealthiest person in Britain with a personal fortune of £120 million, according to the Sunday Times Rich List 2009, and his repeated successes in the past...
, who also launched the Direct Line
Direct Line
Direct Line is part of the RBS Insurance division of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group that specialises in selling insurance and other financial services over the phone and internet....
insurance company for the Royal Bank of Scotland
Royal Bank of Scotland
The Royal Bank of Scotland Group is a British banking and insurance holding company in which the UK Government holds an 84% stake. This stake is held and managed through UK Financial Investments Limited, whose voting rights are limited to 75% in order for the bank to retain its listing on the...
.
esure is now one of the largest providers of motor insurance in the UK and also offers home, pet and travel insurance. The company focuses on lower risk customers, offering cheaper premiums for customers with a current no claims bonus for its car insurance products.
esure car insurance also incorporates Sainsbury's Car Insurance, as well as Halifax Car Insurance. First Alternative in the past offered quotes to higher risk customers, however, this has been phased out, and they now offer a similar product to esure/Sainsbury's, etc.
In 2006 Peter Wood also Launched the highly successful insurance company "Sheilas' Wheels
Sheilas' Wheels
Sheilas' Wheels is a UK car insurance brand that targets its insurance products to women, although it also sells to men. The brand was launched in October 2005 by Peter Wood, and is part of Esure, the insurance group he founded with HBOS in 1999...
", which is close to becoming the fastest selling insurance company in the UK. Sheilas' Wheels focuses on women drivers but does provide cover to anyone.
esure is also known for its high profile commercials with Michael Winner
Michael Winner
Michael Robert Winner is a British film director and producer, active in both Europe and the United States, also known as a food critic for the Sunday Times.-Early life and early career :...
, used from 2002 to 2005 and resuming in 2007. The adverts spawned the phrase, "Calm down dear, it's a commercial". Winner was temporarily replaced by Mr. Mouse, a blue animated mouse character with an American accent. Mr. Mouse was designed by Sian Vickers and Chris Wilkins
Chris Wilkins
Christopher Peter Wilkins is a former South African cricketer who played for Border from 1962/63 to 1970/71, for Derbyshire, from 1970 to 1972, for Eastern Province from 1972/73 to 1977/78 and for Natal from 1978/79 to 1982/83....
, who came out of retirement at the request of Peter Wood
Peter Wood
Peter John Wood was an English musician, born in Middlesex, England. In his early years he lived with his parents in Hythe Field Avenue, Egham, Surrey...
, the founder of esure. The pair were responsible for the Smash Martians
Smash Martians
The Smash Martians were the stars of a series of 1970's and early 1980's TV advertising campaigns for Smash instant mashed potato in the UK. They were a family of Martian robots who would watch humans laboriously preparing mashed potato the traditional way on TV...
as well as the four-wheeled red telephone used by Direct Line
Direct Line
Direct Line is part of the RBS Insurance division of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group that specialises in selling insurance and other financial services over the phone and internet....
in their publicity. Mr. Mouse's catchphrases include "Insurance at mices' prices!" and "Go on, give us a click!". Mr Mouse was voiced by the actor and arts critic Kerry Shale
Kerry Shale
Kerry Shale is a UK-based actor, writer and voice-over artist. He is married to Suzanne Shale, a former Oxford University law don, now a specialist in the field of medical ethics.-Theatre:...
.
On 21 November 2007, it was revealed that insurance firm esure is to replace E.ON
E.ON UK
E.ON UK is an energy company in the United Kingdom and a subsidiary of E.ON, the world's largest investor-owned power and gas company. As Powergen, it was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index but since 1 July 2002 has been owned by E.ON AG of...
as the sponsor of ITV National Weather
ITV Weather
ITV Weather is the national and regional forecast shown on UK terrestrial network ITV, and is provided by the Met Office...
bulletins. The two-year deal, rumoured to be worth £10 million, was negotiated by Carat Sponsorship and began on January 1, 2008.
Lloyds Banking Group
Lloyds Banking Group
Lloyds Banking Group plc is a major British financial institution, formed through the acquisition of HBOS by Lloyds TSB in 2009. As at February 2010, HM Treasury held a 41% shareholding through UK Financial Investments Limited . The Group headquarters is located at 25 Gresham Street in London, with...
sold its 70% stake in Esure to Esure Group Holdings, led by Peter Wood on 11 February 2010. The share was valued at around £185 million.