INSURANCE
Sibling partnership – Emma Simkins and her brother Jonathan Willett lead the Teesside office of rapidly growing Attis Insurance .
“ We ’ re looking to grow to be a key part of the future of Teesside .”
“ Around 90 per cent of our client base is within a 50-mile radius of Teesside .”
But in a global economy , things are changing . Jonathan tells of talking to a client in Australia who ’ s setting up a franchise here because of the North-East ’ s ‘ work ethic and attitude ’.
Emma feels the Teesworks complex , on the old British Steel Redcar site , offers a wealth of opportunities .
She said : “ We ’ re very interested in talking to anyone involved in Teesworks . I think it ’ s going to be brilliant for everybody and we ’ re very supportive of it .”
And anyone flying into the revitalised Teesside International Airport will get the Attis message , as the company has taken out eye-catching advertising space – including a whole ‘ Welcome to Teesside ’ wall in the arrivals hall and even Attis branding on hand sanitisers .
A fledgling business but with vast experience among its staff , Attis stresses the importance of service and building relationships with people – giving them the time they need , rather than relying on phone calls or impersonal email trails .
With more than 350 clients on the Teesside books and rising – including lots of well-known local names – the firm is off to a flying start . But neither Emma nor Jonathan are resting on their laurels .
Emma said : “ Although the office is just over a year old , our reputation and a lot of client relationships go back to the days of Willett & Ross .
“ If a local Teesside client is selling out , we ’ re not losing that business – we ’ re usually picking up the bigger group that ’ s purchased it , and that ’ s the strength of the recommendation .
“ But we genuinely put our hearts and souls into this – we look after people .”
Two apprentices from local colleges start in September and Emma and Jonathan ’ s sister is also part of the team .
The team has a huge wealth of experience and a dedicated commitment to customer service which helps set Attis apart from other , more impersonal operators .
But what about the brother-sister dynamic ?
Emma laughs : “ It ’ s good – as long as Jonathan does as he ’ s told ! But seriously ,
Visit attisinsurancebrokers . com
I look after clients and the day-to-day compliance , office and the people side , where Jonathan is very much client management , sales , new businesses and development focused . We compliment each other .”
Working in AV Dawson ’ s old HQ is appropriate – “ they ’ ve been a client since they were with dad in 1971 , so we ’ ve evolved with that business ,” says Jonathan .
And as for the Teesside office in general , Emma adds : “ We ’ re proud of our clients and their growth . A lot of them are owner managed , family-run businesses – they ’ ve grown , they ’ ve developed .
“ But we work with everyone from large corporate organisations to sole traders .
“ And the next decade is exciting . Our plan is for our growth trajectory to follow Teesside ’ s plan for growth .”
Jonathan said : “ We want to be the name people go to in Teesside . We look after people – we will make sure their cover ’ s right and we ’ ll be there for them .”
The voice of business in the Tees region | 41