We are closing out another memorable year at Thomas Carroll. Amongst many other things, our team has continued to grow across our six offices, we had the honour of being recognised as one of Wales’ best employers and as always, made every effort to make a difference with numerous charitable activities throughout the year. Below, we’re sharing our top moments of 2019.
This wouldn’t have been possible without our loyal clients, and so we would like to say a big thank you for your continuous support.
We Were Named a Top 10 Company to Work For in Wales!
We were named the Sunday Times 8th Best Company to Work for in Wales in March. We were delighted to be included amongst the likes of Admiral Group, Willmott Dixon Construction, Marriott International and other big brand names.
The list of Best Companies to Work for in Wales represents the 30 organisations with the highest Regional Best Companies Index (RBCI) scores. The survey included topics from leadership to wellbeing and we were rated anonymously by our very own employees. We are extremely proud of this achievement, which serves as a reminder of our commitment to the health and wellbeing of our employees and our support of the local community.
CII Presidency for Mary Fletcher
In April, our Commercial Account Executive, Mary Fletcher was appointed as President of the Insurance Institute of Cardiff. As President, Mary’s responsibilities include representing the local institute at local, regional and national events, maintaining the profile of the local institute locally, regionally and nationally and developing the services of the local institute for the benefit of all members. Commenting on her appointment, Mary said:
“We on the Council are all volunteers with busy working lives. What we have in common is professionalism together with the desire to give something back to the profession. I am fortunate to work with such a skilled, hardworking and committed team.”
Voted in by the Chartered Insurance Institute’s Council at their annual AGM, Mary’s year in office will continue to April 2020. Well done Mary, from everyone at Thomas Carroll.
Developing Future Leaders
In addition to welcoming many new faces this year, we made a number of internal senior appointments, continuing our aim to invest in succession planning and grow our regional presence over the next 5 years.
In May, Mark Sullivan was appointed as Managing Director of our Swansea office. Mark joined Thomas Carroll as an Account Executive in 2010 and was later made a Director of Thomas Carroll Brokers Swansea, our business insurance arm.
Around the same time, Dougie Spencer was appointed as Regional Director of our Hereford office. Following graduation from the University of Birmingham and a year abroad, Dougie has worked in the insurance industry for almost a decade and joined Thomas Carroll in 2015.
Growth Plans for our Employee Benefits Division
Thomas Carroll Independent Financial Advisers have grown their Employee Benefits division to develop their offering for businesses. Nia Rogers recently joined our team from Capita as Head of Employee Benefits, bringing with her a wealth of experience that spans 25 years. We also welcomed Samantha Gierak, previously with Lloyd’s Banking Group, as an Employee Benefits Coordinator who, along with Nia, will provide clients with a clear solution to their workplace challenges. Commenting on her appointment, Nia Rogers said:
“My focus is to enhance and grow our Employee Benefit proposition and provide a great service to all of our clients. I want to solve and provide solutions to the challenges that employers face on a daily basis by helping them implement and develop a bespoke benefit offering that will help them retain and attract talented individuals.”
Thomas Carroll Newport Turns One
In February, we celebrated the one-year anniversary of our Newport office opening. Led by Branch Director, Claire Humphries, Newport was our 6th office to open following our offices in Swansea, Pembrokeshire, Hereford, London and our headquarters in Caerphilly.
Situated in the prosperous Clytha Park district, our Newport branch has continued its growth within the thriving business community. In the summer of 2019, Paul Williams joined the team as an Account Executive to provide additional benefits for our loyal Newport client base with his deep-rooted experience in the insurance industry. Well-known in the local area, we are delighted to have Paul on board and can’t wait to see what’s next for our Newport office.
Giving Back to the Local Community
Throughout the year, our employees worked hard to support local charitable causes. Between many other challenges, one of the biggest saw Thomas Carroll CEO, Rhys Thomas embark on a challenging 5-day trek of the Helambu region of Nepal in March, in aid of Velindre Cancer Care.
Trekking on behalf of colleagues, family and friends affected by cancer, Rhys and wife Michelle were amongst 50 volunteers with a shared goal of raising £250,000 for the charity. Rhys and Michelle set themselves the personal goal of raising £10,000 together, and we were delighted when they surpassed their target and more than doubled this amount.
We also pledged to raise £12,000 to contribute towards the refurbishment of Tŷ Hafan’s Children’s Hospice, which provides comfort, care and support to children with life-limiting conditions and their families. We were thrilled to reach our target as a result of multiple fundraising activities, including taking over The Depot Cardiff’s Bingo Lingo event and giving it a charitable twist!
Improving Employee Wellbeing
At the beginning of 2019, we launched our employee wellbeing programme, TC and Me. As a business, we recognise that supporting the wellbeing of our employees has positive benefits for both individuals and the company. Employee happiness and health is vital to our success.
We have always taken pride in rewarding our employees with great benefits, from flexible working conditions and weekend trips away to free massages and hospital cash plans. The aim of the programme is to actively promote the physical health and social wellbeing of our employees through a number of initiatives, including mindfulness workshops, running club and sessions to educate on important topics, such as cancer awareness.
The Scene Issue 9 Launch
In October, we launched the 9th edition of our business and lifestyle magazine, The Scene. Themed around creating a platform for growth, the magazine features inspiring success stories from our personal and business clients from within a variety of industries, from property and manufacturing to hospitality and care.
On top of that, it includes advice on a number of industry hot topics, such as financial advice for retirement, cybersecurity and travel, as well as our latest company news. Click here to read The Scene online or register to receive a free copy in the post.
One Last Thing…
Not a favourite moment of 2019, but definitely a standout one was the recent retirement of John Moore, our Chairman and leader for almost 40 years. Having joined Thomas Carroll in the early 80s, John’s passion, drive and guidance led the business to what it has become today, and we will be forever grateful. Thank you, John, for your support over the years and all the best for the future, from everyone at Thomas Carroll.
If you have any questions or need advice, contact us today:
T: 02920 853788
E: contact@thomas-carroll.co.uk
W: www.thomascarroll.co.uk