40. Bland Bankart

Fee and commission income (2002): £14.6m

Pre-tax profit (2002): not supplied

Address:
5 Western Boulevard
Leicester LE2 7EX

Tel: 0116 254 6221

Fax: 0116 247 0140

Email: infp@blandbankart.co.uk

Website: www.blandbankart.co.uk

Year established: 1960

History: Bland Bankart was founded by Philip and Gilbert Bland in Leicester in 1960, undertaking both general and financial services business. Since then the company has expanded, partly through acquisitions, and now has offices in Leicester, Thurmaston, Nottingham, Birmingham, Luton and London. The company acquired plc status in 1997.

In addition to general and financial services business, Bland Bankart also has an outsourcing company named BIAS Services Ltd, which undertakes third-party administration for extended warranty and other insurance schemes, working closely with insurers and other financial institutions.

Major shareholders: Philip Anthony Bland and Gilbert Lawrence Bland

Main lines of business: General insurance, financial services and outsourcing.

Number of UK branches: 6

Subsidiary companies:
Bland Bankart (UK);

Bland Bankart Financial Services;

BIAS Services.

Number of UK employees (average for 2002): 250

Chief officer: Philip Bland

Biography: Philip Bland is a fellow of the CII. He has worked for many years in the general insurance business in Birmingham, the City of London and, since the formation of the company, in Leicester.

He is a non-executive director of Acturis, the software company specialising in systems for general insurance broking. He describes himself as "firm but fair, and tough in negotiations".