Burgess seeks to cash in on Diamond Jubilee year

Simon Burgess

London-based online insurance entrepreneur, Simon Burgess has put three of his companies with British titles up for sale.

The unemployment insurance pioneer and founder of Towergate-owned online firm British Insurance, is speaking to UK company leaders keen to use the name British in their brand portfolio about selling British Money, British Loans and British Ltd.

There is significant interest from within and outside the insurance industry.

Burgess, who is now involved in the US market and is looking for extra capacity in that area, believes the time is right to offer these names to UK-based businesses.

He told Insurance Times: “We are looking to cash in our assets on the back of the Jubliee and the Olympics with Team GB.

“These are assets of national importance.”

He continued: “In order to gain permission from Government to use a business name containing the word ‘British’, companies have to demonstrate pre-eminence in their field.

“As there are a number of firms that meet this criterion, demand is high for these iconic names which will provide an excellent marketing platform.”

British Insurance, which is a niche PPI broker, was acquired by Towergate in January 2008 with Burgess staying on as managing director and all of the staff moving to Towergate.

Burgess left the Colchester-based company in 2010 to move into unemployment insurance in the US.