LV took home the awards for best overall provider and best provider for new customers at the 12th annual protection awards hosted by specialist adviser Lifesearch last night (5 March).
The firm won five awards in total, including best income protection provider, best new initiative for its ‘personal sick pay’ income protection product, and best underwriting team.
Ageas won a brace of awards, comprising of best provider for existing clients and best ‘e-commerce’ provider. Other key awards included best critical illness provider and most improved provider, both of which went to Friends Life, and an outstanding achievement gong for the Seven Families campaign.
Emma Thomson, life office relationship director, added: “As they are voted for by LifeSearch staff, based on their daily experiences of working with insurers, the award winners can feel extremely proud to have come out top.”
Lifesearch separately announced that it saw a 12 per cent increase in profit to £5m for the year ending August 2014, on the back of a 9 per cent increase in turnover to £19.7m.
Tom Baigrie, founder and chief executive of LifeSearch commented that during 2014 the firm advised on and arranged over £4.3bn worth of financial protection.
“Our strong growth has been achieved by the quality of our advisers, the teams that support them, and the loyalty of our partners and customers.
“LifeSearch’s commitment to further growth and innovation remains very strong, but is more than matched by our commitment to make sure the advice our 120 plus advisers provide is of the highest standard.”
LifeSearch Protection Awards 2015 – The winners
• Best Overall Provider: LV
• Outstanding Achievement Award: Seven Families
• Best Service for New Customers: LV
• Best Provider for Existing Customers: Ageas Protect
• Best Critical Illness Provider: Friends Life
• Best Income Protection Provider: LV
• Most Improved Provider: Friends Life
• Best E-Commerce: Ageas Protect
• Best New Initiative: LV (for Personal Sick Pay)
• Best Sales Material: Exeter Family Friendly
• Best Underwriting Team: LV
• Best Individual Impact: Jonathan Watts (Friends Life), Natalie Summerson (Aviva)
• Nick Crossman Award for Best PR and Marketing: Vitality Life
• Best Protection Story in the Media: Jeff Prestridge, Mail on Sunday
• Best Protection Leader: Jeremy Moll, Beagle Street
ruth.gillbe@ft.com
