Bennetts
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Bennetts | |
| Type of Company | Public |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1930 |
| Headquarters | Peterborough, United Kingdom |
| Key people | Gordon Bennett Founder |
| Industry | Finance and Insurance |
| Products | Financial Services |
| Parent | Budget Group of Companies |
| Website | www.bennetts.co.uk |
Bennetts, part of the Budget Group of Companies, is the UK’s number one for motorcycle insurance and insures over 170,000 bikers in the UK and Northern Ireland. Established in 1930, Bennetts has over 70 years experience in the insurance industry and over the last decade has become one of the fastest growing insurance providers in the UK.
Approximately 300 staff, based at its Contact Centre in Coventry, provide competitive quotes to around 600,000 bikers a year (that’s over half of the biking population). With a panel of underwriters, Bennetts continues to work closely with them to ensure its customers receive the best possible price for their insurance requirements.
Bennetts was the first company to offer online motorbike insurance quotes and have recently innovated again with a streamlined site design.
Bennetts redesigned its website in June 2006, with a new 24 hour Quote Engine, which aims to speed up quote times by as much as 50%, making it quicker and easier for bikers to get an online motorcycle insurance quote, giving them more time to spend on their bikes!
The new site offers motorcycle, moped and scooter insurance and you can now insure up to 6 bikes on its new multibike insurance policy.
As one of the UK’s largest providers of bike insurance, Bennetts do all the legwork to ensure its customers get the lowest priced quotes from it’s panel of top insurers.
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[edit] Key facts about Bennetts
1930 Founded by Gordon Bennett in Coventry and provided general insurance for customers
1970 Due to demand and changes in the market Bennetts became specialists in motorcycle insurance in the early 1970’s and devised a number of schemes for bikers
1999 Free Phone number became available at weekends due to demand
2000 Bennetts was the first to launch its quote and buy facility online at www.bennetts.co.uk
2001 Winner of Insurance Age ‘Website of the Year 2001’
2001 Budget Financial Group acquired Dial Direct Insurance Marketing Ltd, which incorporated the Bennetts brand
At the time of acquisition Bennetts insured 95,000 bikers
2003 The Bennetts brand was given a new identity and look.
Bennetts became personal sponsor of Neil Hodgson who went on to become the 2003 World Superbike Champion
Bennetts dominated TV screens through sponsoring bike related programmes on Sky including Men and Motors, Motors TV, Sky Sports and Moto Plus
2004 Bennetts became the preferred insurance provider for the BMF, British Motorcyclist Federation
2005 Bennetts invested almost £700,000 in the latest state of the art technology to enhance its product offerings to meet customer demands
Bennetts became the title sponsor of the 2005 British Superbike Championship
2006 Bennetts renews BSB sponsorship deal and becomes title sponsor of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship for the second year running.
Bennetts sponsors TV coverage of the BSB on ITV1 and launches its new 'be part of it' TV credits, featuring a competition to find bikers and bike lovers to star in its next set of TV credits.
[edit] Other
Over the past few years Bennetts has made significant investment in the Bennetts brand, through a number of high profile marketing and PR campaigns.
In May 2003 Bennetts relaunched the Bennetts brand with a new identity. At the same time Bennetts became a personal sponsor of Neil Hodgson who went on to become the World Superbike Champion later that year.
In 2005 Bennetts became the title sponsor of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship and in 2007 will be entering its third year as title sponsor.
Within the world of sport the British Superbike Championship is considered to be the premiership of motorcycling. As the biggest sponsorship deal ever undertaken in the history of the brand, Bennetts has worked hard to maximise the deal to ensure maximum brand awareness.
In addition Bennetts has established relationships with a number of key industry partners including The British Motorcycle Federation and Hein Gericke Motorcycle Clothing and Accessories.
[edit] Bennetts Babes
In August 2003 Bennetts launched a nationwide search to find 4 Bennetts Babes to become ambassadors for the Bennetts brand. In November 2003 the 4 winners were unveiled at the NEC’s National Motorcycle and Scooter Show and for the next year were used to represent the brand at various events around the country.
In 2005 a search was launched to find 12 Bennetts Babes to represent the brand and become Official Grid Girls for the 2006 Bennetts British Superbike Championship, which is broadcast live on ITV1, at race circuits throughout the UK.
In addition each girl signed up to a 12-month modelling contract with DLP Models, one of the UK's leading model agencies, with over ten years experience in the industry.
The Bennetts Babes took part in a photoshoot to feature in Bennetts' first ever 2007 'Bennetts Grid Girl' calendar, which is produced in association with Danilo (www.danilo.com) who currently licence Official Calendars for people such as Robbie Williams, Kelly Brook, Kylie Minogue and Jennifer Ellison.
Over 250 girls from across the country entered the search hoping to impress the judging panel to become one of the final 12.
The winners were judged on a combination of looks, personality and the ability to fulfil the role of ambassadors for the Bennetts brand.
