The third annual East Cheshire Chamber of Commerce Business Awards were held at Cranage Hall on Friday 30^th March 2012.

On a highly successful night 13 prestigious awards were presented (from over 160 entries) to East Cheshire businesses in recognition of their outstanding achievements and commitment to excellence over the past year. There were 16 tables and 260 people at the awards, showing there are plenty of thriving businesses in the region despite the tough economic climate.

insureTAXI are part of the County Insurance Group, employing 75 staff and with offices in Crewe and Southport. Whilst taxi insurance is a significant part of the overall business, County Insurance also provide private car insurance, home insurance, fleet insurance and business insurance.

insureTAXI / County Insurance were one of several nominations in the hard fought and prestigious Business of the Year Award.

County Insurance are both delighted and honoured to have come out as the winners for 2012 as the East Cheshire Chamber Business of the Year. This is following on from having won Professional Service Provider of the Year in 2011.

Dave Clapp, MD of County Insurance comments “We are delighted to have won the Business of the Year award against what was some very stiff competition. I know a lot of the other companies that were in our category whom I have great respect for, and I am really chuffed to have been chosen by the panel as winners of Business of the Year.”

Dave continues, “I’d like to publicly thank our staff who are all very dedicated professionals and you don’t win awards like this without having an excellent team of people. We have had nearly eight years of sustained but controlled growth, even in the last few years in recessionary trading conditions which is really pleasing.

The high levels of customer service we provide both our personal and business customers’ means that not only do we enjoy high levels of customer loyalty, but also benefit from word of mouth recommendations.

Customers obviously hope that they never really need their insurance – but it’s vital to provide a superb service when they do, with the foundations of us winning the award of professional service provider last year we went on to have our best year ever in terms of business results so it just shows that the professional service delivered to your customers really does pay.

“We find that providing a first class service on top of competitive pricing is a sound business strategy. In the last few years I believe we have seen a ‘flight to quality’ for important services such as insurance. You need good advice. There is little point in having an insurance policy if it doesn’t cover you for what you believed it should do, which is the danger with internet only companies in this sector

We make sure all staff are fully trained and put many through the professional insurance qualifications. They really do go the extra mile to make sure our customers get the best service and I’m delighted this award recognises this.

My thanks go to our team, all the people that nominated us and to the panel of the East Cheshire Chamber for this award”

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County Insurance Consultants are a one stop shop insurance broker based in Cheshire. We offer the full range of personal insurance and business insurance. For online car & home quotes visit www.insurance4your.co.uk.

To speak with one of our specialist taxi insurance team, please call 0800 142 2828.

For business insurance, visit www.countyins.com. Alternatively call 01270 506980 to speak to one of our team

Cab drivers in the Cheshire area believe that there future may be in danger because of the proposed changes to licensing rules. The issue was mentioned in last months PHTM, since then council officials have spoke out and said that plans to “standardised” regulations so that the same policies exist throughout Chester and Cheshire West.

These new rules would see that taxi drivers who break the law on a varied amount of times would get there license taken from them. But associations such as the Chester Licensed Hackney association say that this would result in an oversaturated market because taxis from borough would build up to work in Chester. Chairman Richard Barker has said that the number of taxies in the city has increases from 77 to more than 140 because of the deregulation that was introduced a few years ago. He told the Chester Standard “People might think they’re doing us drivers a favour allowing us to work in a larger area when they lift the zones but they aren’t” Imagine people who work in Helsby and Frodsham now coming to Chester on race day.” He also said that “no one wants the zones lifted; all taxis here are wheelchair accessible. But in vale Royal they do not. Why should we be lowering our standard, when they should come up to our standard? He also said that the penalty point rule would mean demeanor committed would end in penalty points “we feel this is stupid, everyone should be dealt with individually. If someone parks at the end of the taxi rank, you can get points, but there are 140 hackney carriages and only 43 spaces in Chester.

Chester council spokesman Rachel Ashley said: We would encourage anyone with concerns or any comments to submit them to us, and all of your comments will be taken seriously. Cllr Lynn Riyel, executive member for community and environment added: Our priority is to ensure that members of the public enjoy safe and reliable access to taxis, and that members of the taxi trade operate within a clear and fair set of policies” The consultation closes on April 16.

Do you need taxi insurance?  Call one of our experienced taxi insurance team on 0800 980 3136 or click here for a taxi insurance quote.

Being a taxi driver makes sense if you want to be self employed or want an additional income on top of another job. Providing you can successfully obtain a taxi badge from your local licensing authority, all you need to start earning money is a car / minibus and taxi insurance!

We won’t mislead you here…..first time taxi insurance can be expensive as you don’t have any taxi insurance no claims bonus (NCB). However, underwriters will consider giving discounts if you have private car NCB and you are willing to transfer this across to your taxi insurance – this makes sense as the premiums (and hence the discount) are a lot bigger!

Our only other piece of advice is too drive carefully! If you are claim free for a year – so no accidents or only non-fault accidents – then you will earn one years NCB and your renewal price will be a lot more attractive!

For any further advice, please call insureTAXI on 0800 142 2828 or leave your details on our online taxi insurance quote form

But saving money in the current climate IS exciting.

Taxi insurance is a big cost, especially alongside rising fuel prices which are reaching record highs. So we are more determined than ever to do the BEST job we can to save our taxi drivers and taxi fleets money.

insureTAXI are in advanced discussions with a leading underwriter about a dedicated taxi insurance scheme for our customers only.

Meaning our panel of taxi insurance rates could be getting even better.

We’ll keep you posted….

John & Sandra provide life saving cakes to the taxi insurance team!!

Paying to ‘dress down’ (with a nautical theme!) for the day, selling home-made cakes, buying raffle tickets and badges have been some of the ways the taxi insurance team have endeavoured to fundraise for the charity.

The RNLI relies entirely on voluntary contributions and receives no funding from the government.  This is one of the reasons why the taxi insurance crew have a day like this each year.

We’re pleased to announce that the insureTAXI team raised £390.90 which will provide a new ‘state of the art’ light-weight lifejacket & some sea wellies for a volunteer crew member.

The event was organised by one of our Business Insurance Advisors, John Lawson and his wife Sandra.  Thanks to you both for all of your efforts!

Do you need rescuing when it comes to your taxi insurance!?  Call us today on 0800 980 3136 for some free advice or a quote.  Alternatively, text TAXI to 88010 and we’ll call you back or click get an online taxi insurance quote.

County Insurance (including many of the insureTAXI team) win 3-0 against Kindertons!

insureTAXI, cheap taxi insurance providers, host an annual 11-a-side football match with local Accident Management Company Kindertons.  This year, we’re delighted to say that we WON!!

The insureTAXI, taxi insurance team, part of County Insurance Consultants Ltd. made up the majority of the winning football team!

Kindertons were beaten 3-0  and it was their first lose out of three games.

We did have two ‘secret weapons’!

Jimmy Quinn, Nantwich Town FC manager and  previous West Ham, Blackburn, Swindon Town, Reading and Northern Ireland footballer played a full match for us.  Our car and home insurance department, insurance4your, sponsor Nantwich Town’s first team shirts.

Jimmy Quinn helped the County Insurance team to victory!

Also, Mat Bailey played for the County Insurance team.  Mat works as a taxi insurance advisor and is also a part-time semi-professional footballer.  He plays for Nantwich Town and was captain when they played MK Dons earlier this season when they reached the first round of the FA Cup proper!

Mat Bailey, scoring here for Nantwich Town, made a big impact on the field in the County Insurance Vs Kindertons match!

Special congratulations go to Johny Kettle (also a taxi insurance advisor) as he won “Man of the Match” after scoring 2 goals!  Mark Brown, who works at our Southport branch of insureTAXI, scored the third goal.

Kindertons, the Accident Management company we use to supply our taxi insurance customers with plated replacement vehicles should they have a non-fault accident, played well but were defeated on this occasion!

We look forward to the next match in a years time guys!!

Happy New Year from all of the insureTAXI Team!

insureTAXI would like to wish all of our valued taxi insurance customers a Happy New Year!

We wish you all the best for a successful 2012!

Remember, we’re here if you need us!  Call us on 0800 980 3136 with any taxi insurance queries or click here for a taxi insurance quote.

Jonny just before the waxing - looking calm!

AGONY!! Amelia (one of our taxi insurance advisors) pulls strips off Jonny's chest!

Jonny & Steve after waxing (with nervous Adam in the background – up next!)

The 3 volunteers did not quite realise what an eye watering experience it was – the pictures tell the story(!) – However, it was all for a fantastic cause and well over £500 was raised.

Jonny enjoys piling the shopping trolley full of presents for the children!The taxi insurance team with the presents all wrapped & ready to be delivered to the children

Some of the taxi insurance team delivering the presents to Leighton Hospital

We're now open 8am-10pm Weekdays and 9am-5pm Weekends!

Breakdown cover from insureTAXI starts from just £89 a year!

I hope Micky knows about us and the fact that we have access to the best taxi insurance rates in the UK!

A few Spurs supporters at insureTAXI too