This article is sponsored by A-Plan Harrogate
A-Plan Harrogate has celebrated its one-year anniversary, having opened the new branch while the nation was deep in the pandemic, lockdown, and furlough.
Despite the initial opening being delayed due to construction work grinding to a halt during the first lockdown, the high street insurer was determined to see the business open and thrive.
Branch Manager Chris Bishop recalls the journey from the temporary opening in 2020, to a more permanent reopening this year, to celebrating their one-year Birthday with some Fat Rascals from Bettys Harrogate. And of course, the community support that keeps his team committed, and Harrogate town centre thriving.
Opening and closing, and opening again
“Opening a new high street store during a pandemic probably didn’t make sense to some. Particularly as so many large household retail brands closed their high street stores for good. However, despite the challenges of opening, closing, working from home, and reopening again, we knew that this would be a service that many local people would want to see return to the high street. After all, A-Plan has been supporting high streets and local communities since it opened its first branch in Oxford almost 60 years ago. So you could say we’re very well-rehearsed at it!”
Chris continues :
“And now, more than ever, I really do feel that there is a need for that personal connection and the reassurance of speaking to a real person to help them find the right insurance, rather than filling out an online question set. One thing that became clear at the start of the pandemic was that clients were fed up of waiting hours to have their call answered, yet on average we’re still answering calls in under 20 seconds.
“It was a great feeling finally getting the keys to the store last year – and we managed to time our opening in-between lockdowns, so we were able to celebrate with an appearance by Deputy Mayor Councillor Zoe Metcalf, and a representative from Saint Michael’s Hospice who we continue to support. We even had a visit from ‘the Trotter’s van’ which drew a lot of attention outside our store!
“We were open for just six weeks before closing again due to the second lockdown, but we kept building the business by working from home. Unfortunately, face-to-face meetings came to a swift halt, but we were available on the phone for anyone that needed us. We do go into things a little deeper to ensure our clients get the cover they need, so we still built up a good rapport via telephone. And it was great to see so many of the people we spoke to ‘pop in’ when we reopened! It was a great feeling returning to the new store once lockdown lifted. It does feel as if the entire community has really pulled together to support each other, and that has been reflected in the footfall in the centre too.”
An active part of our community
“It has been important for us to work with independent businesses and charities in the area and we started that from our very first day. In addition to supporting Saint Michaels Hospice, we continue to support the Harrogate Theatre, and work closely with the Harrogate Outdoor Bowls Club.
“Our team also enjoyed wearing pink, baking cakes, and fundraising for Breast Cancer Awareness, and we ran a Free Coffee Friday offering A-Plan thermos mugs filled with coffee from our neighbouring, independent coffee shop which was very well received.
“There is a real drive to engage in activities, and that was very prevalent at the recent A-Plan sponsored Harrogate bonfire, which saw over 12,000 people attend and record fundraising for the Friends of Harrogate Hospital. We also ran a competition to win free insurance!
“Harrogate is a great place to work, so we also continue to support our local business community, having recently hosted a B2B networking event in our meeting room with a view to host more events in the future.”
A helpful addition to the high street
“It is clear from the reception we have enjoyed that A-Plan is a helpful addition to the high street, with local people not having had a more personal ‘branch’ service in the area for over four years. It has been encouraging to see footfall increase over the last few months, and to see Harrogate thriving after being mentioned for it’s incredible ‘bounce back’ in the news recently. This is an amazing testament to the local community and people in the area, everyone has pulled together, and you get a real sense of that.”
To find out more about A-Plan and the services available, contact the Harrogate team directly on 01423 647220.
A-Plan Harrogate: a personal insurance experienceThis article is sponsored by A-Plan
The opening of A-Plan Insurance’s first ever Yorkshire branch in Harrogate could not have come at a better time. As the coronavirus pandemic leaves many feeling isolated, A-Plan’s personable approach and support for the local community is heartening.
As a broker, A-Plan provides a tailored service with high standards of personal care to its clients, ensuring that policies are properly explained and meet your specific home or car insurance needs.
No transactions are done online, so whether you’re able to attend the new Princes Street branch in person (which is fully covid-secure and open during this lockdown), or prefer to speak to an advisor over the phone, you are guaranteed a personal service.
Despite being a national firm, A-Plan’s service is refreshingly local. All of the staff live in the area, so have the knowledge of local streets, properties and risk areas to ensure your quote is personal to you – and not just based off an internet search.
A-Plan Harrogate was opened by the Deputy Mayor of Harrogate, Councillor Zoe Metcalfe
Branch Manager Chris is Ripon born and bred, and after two decades working for A-Plan elsewhere, has returned to God’s Own County.
Chris said:
“I am excited to be coming back to my Yorkshire roots and bringing the A-Plan experience to the north of the country.
Harrogate’s a vibrant town for both business and pleasure and I can’t wait to introduce my young family to everything the town has to offer.”
All of the advisers at Harrogate’s A-Plan branch are fully qualified with a CII (Certificate in Insurance); they work and build relationships with over 30 insurance providers at a time, but as they aren’t paid commission you get impartial advice and the very best price for your individual needs.
Buying insurance has become an impersonal experience; price comparison websites expect you to do all the work, and you can’t always be completely sure that the cover meets your specific needs. If your home, vehicle or other item is out of the ordinary it can be very hard to be sure you’ve bought the right product for your requirements.
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Unlike some call centre systems, there are no time-targets for A-Plan staff, and they genuinely care about you. Branch manager Chris once arranged for a staff member to make a two-hour round trip to deliver documents to a customer without access to a printer, and makes it his personal mission to ensure every client receives the first-class service they deserve.
That person-centred approach carries over into A-Plan’s support of the local community. Chris and the team have launched a scheme in support of Saint Michael’s hospice, where a £50 donation is activated if you mention the charity when taking out a new car, van or home insurance policy, providing much needed support to the Harrogate based charity. The branch is also supporting the Harrogate Theatre Emergency Appeal and has sponsored 2 seats for when this valued venue reopens to the community.
To speak to A-Plan Harrogate about your insurance needs, you can call the local branch on 01423 647235 or visit them at 10 Princes Street, Harrogate, HG1 1NH.