Swinton Colonnade
Encyclopedia
Swinton is a British insurance brokerage and is owned by French insurers 'La Mutuelle du Mans Assurances IARD' (MMA Insurance plc), a company incorporated in France. Swinton has 600+ branches across the UK and in excess of 3,000 employees.
More than fifty years ago in 1957, Ken Scowcroft began a car insurance business in his front room and named it after the borough of Salford he lived in. The first premium cost just over £5, and in the first year he sold around 100 policies for local people.
In 1991 the Scowcroft family sold Swinton to Sun Alliance and a decade later it changed hands again, with MMA Insurance. On 5 June 2002, Swinton acquired Colonnade Insurance Brokers from parent Provident Financial. Colonnade's 88 outlets were added to Swinton's existing 260 high street branches and both brands were maintained trading as Swinton Colonnade.
Subsequent major acquisitions are as follows:
On 10 August 2006, Swinton Group Ltd purchased the high street insurance intermediary business Budget Retail from the Budget Group. Annual income over £500m, with 442 branches and over 2m policies.
On 24 April 2007, Swinton Group Ltd acquired Vectis Insurance Services Ltd, an Isle of Wight based broker. Established in 1962 and trading from two offices in Cowes and Newport, the Vectis brand will continue to trade from both locations.
On 23 July 2007, Swinton Group Ltd acquired Rockford Insurance Brokers, a Leeds based independent broker established in 2002. Rockford specialises in commercial business risks, motor trade insurance, and some specialist areas such as professional indemnity, the medical profession and the education sector.
It was announced on 8 January 2009 that Equity Insurance Brokers, High street branches had been acquired by Swinton.
History
The history of Swinton Insurance can be traced back to the 1950s and Swinton were the first insurance broker to use prime time TV as a medium to advertise in the 1960s.More than fifty years ago in 1957, Ken Scowcroft began a car insurance business in his front room and named it after the borough of Salford he lived in. The first premium cost just over £5, and in the first year he sold around 100 policies for local people.
In 1991 the Scowcroft family sold Swinton to Sun Alliance and a decade later it changed hands again, with MMA Insurance. On 5 June 2002, Swinton acquired Colonnade Insurance Brokers from parent Provident Financial. Colonnade's 88 outlets were added to Swinton's existing 260 high street branches and both brands were maintained trading as Swinton Colonnade.
Subsequent major acquisitions are as follows:
On 10 August 2006, Swinton Group Ltd purchased the high street insurance intermediary business Budget Retail from the Budget Group. Annual income over £500m, with 442 branches and over 2m policies.
On 24 April 2007, Swinton Group Ltd acquired Vectis Insurance Services Ltd, an Isle of Wight based broker. Established in 1962 and trading from two offices in Cowes and Newport, the Vectis brand will continue to trade from both locations.
On 23 July 2007, Swinton Group Ltd acquired Rockford Insurance Brokers, a Leeds based independent broker established in 2002. Rockford specialises in commercial business risks, motor trade insurance, and some specialist areas such as professional indemnity, the medical profession and the education sector.
It was announced on 8 January 2009 that Equity Insurance Brokers, High street branches had been acquired by Swinton.