![]() ![]() I had an employee go out for lunch and never come back! Now that’s a big sandwich. From staff calling in sick because they have a runny nose to a 9-month tender process in order to win a major contract. Owning your own business has many pleasures, but also many pitfalls. If you would have asked me what GDPR was in 1990, I would have thought it was a World War 2 Treaty. Over the years, I’ve seen a catalogue of changes. In its place was a brand new bespoke claims system that could work at twice the speed and wouldn’t have tea spilt on it. We ditched the fax machine (yes, they really did exist), paper files, cabinets and invoicing book and finally entered the modern business world. ICHB soon became ICAB (Insurance Claims Accommodation Bureau), meaning we dealt with all aspects of Alternative Accommodation, from cradle to grave under one roof. This had now become real family affair.Īfter much brainstorming, we realised that there were other avenues to explore. We employed more staff, were hit by a surge after 6 months and grew rapidly. So much so, that we had to move to a serviced office. However, the concept was new and exciting and eventually business picked up. We could go and play a round of golf together and not receive a single phone call. Do I continue in my safe, secure, exhausting but exhilarating job or take a punt, go All In and risk it all?Īfter much consideration, I became the newest member of ICHB! At first, we received 1 new instruction per week. This was a real “Sliding Doors” moment in my life. My father called me one day and said “I need your help”. Word spread fast, but the bookings weren’t coming in. ![]() Despite the very unprofessional circumstances, the Insurance Company loved it and signed up! My mother was there to provide the tea and coffee. I remember very clearly a multi-million pound Insurance company coming to our old house and having a meeting in the lounge. He bought a computer and a telephone line. Insurance Claims Hotel Bureau (ICHB) was born Surely, there was a company that could do this on their behalf? There wasn’t and so the lightbulb idea occurred. I loved the buzz of buying / selling commodities.Īt the time, my father was a Loss Assessor and was staggered to learn that one of his customers was told by a large Insurance Company to book themselves into 3 rooms at a local hotel for 2 weeks. 4.30am and often arriving home after 6.00pm (after midnight if meeting / entertaining clients). My day consisted of taking the first train into London at approx. I was working in the City in the Banking Industry. In 1990, I was fresh-faced, slim and had a full head of hair. ![]()
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