18. Endsleigh Insurance Services

Fee and commission income (1999): £42.4m
Pre-tax profit (1999): £4.6m

Head office:
Endsleigh House
Ambrose Street
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire GL50 3NR
Tel: 01242 866 866
Fax: 01242 866951
Email: endsleigh@dial.pipex.com

Major shareholders: Gourdse Verzekeringen NV (Netherlands)

Company history: Formed in 1965 by the National Union of Students, Endsleigh has grown to become one of the largest high-street retailers in the UK. The company continues to lead the market in the provision of insurance for students and young people, a market that remains crucial and core to the company, despite its rapid expansion into other areas of the community.

Endsleigh's highly successful sponsorship deal with the Football League Championships between 1993 and 1996 has had a huge impact on the profile and level of awareness enjoyed by the company, making Endsleigh the household name it is today.

The company's advanced technology provides it with all the underwriting sophistication and cost-saving efficiency usually associated with direct insurers. However, Endsleigh's expanding network of retail outlets also provides a professional, friendly and localised service for its clients.

Main lines of business: The group offers all personal lines insurance products through Endsleigh Insurance Services and general insurance broking services through its subsidiary, Endsleigh Insurance (Brokers).

In addition to the standard classes of personal and commercial insurances, Endsleigh can arrange stock deterioration, goods in transit, fidelity guarantee and professional indemnity contractors' all risks, industrial vehicles, plant insurance, computers and book debts.

Special schemes: Professional, semi-professional and amateur sports insurance products ranging from stadium cover to personal injury policies.