The PUNCHLINE Annual 2020

Award is the cherry on top of the cake for Cass-Stephens Insurances

A company that started as a one-man band and has grown to become a multi-million pound enterprise with nearly 30 staff, is celebrating being named the best business in Gloucestershire. Cass-Stephens Insurances scooped The Business of the Year gong at the GloucestershireLive and Gloucester Citizen Believe in Gloucester Awards in November. Heading off competition from fellow finalists Gloucester Student Homes and the Museum of Gloucester, it was something of a cherry on the cake after a significant three years. They celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2016 and, such was the growth of the firm in the years since, a move to bigger offices in Barnwood became a necessity. Since the anniversary and move, the firm has seen a 35 per cent rise in revenues, with turnover as high as £6.8 million last year. Matt Cass, son of founder Mike Cass, who is now a director of the firm alongside his brother James and Paul Baldwin, said that the award win had allowed the management a rare chance to take stock. “We’re not a firm that often sings from the rooftops about what we do, because we’re usually too busy working,” Mr Cass said. “But this award win was a big honour for us. Cass- Stephens is a Gloucester-born and bred company, so

to be named as the Best Business in the city meant a huge amount to us all.” From itsWindsor House offices on BarnettWay, Cass- Stephens has a staff of 29, who provide commercial and personal insurance both locally and to an ever- growing list of national clients. Back when dad Mike started the firm in 1966 and then when the two Cass brothers joined the family firm, the majority of their work was for personal clients, with a limited amount of commercial cases. Home, travel and motor insurance kept the company busy, but after acquiring a portfolio of other Gloucestershire firms, they have continued expanding into commercial markets. Now around 60 per cent of the firm’s business is in the commercial sector, with a host of Gloucestershire businesses safe in the knowledge that Cass-Stephens has them insured. Major county schools to manufacturers, wholesalers, construction firms, solicitors, accountants, pubs, clubs and mosques all trust the family-run firm to insure them. Nationally, Parksure – an arm of the business that insures park homes, holiday lodge, static caravans and holiday parks – and InsureWithCare – which looks after care homes, supported living, charities and care providers – ensures that staff numbers as well as the bottom line keeps increasing. “We had to move out of our old offices as we couldn’t

48 | February 2020 | www. punchline-gloucester .com

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