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Independent insurance brokers celebrate 50 years in business

Independent insurance brokers celebrate 50 years in business

A family-run firm of independent insurance brokers is celebrating 50 years in business.

Northampton-based Pyke Smith & Cutler was launched in September 1970 by John Cutler, Joe Pyke and Brian Smith who formed a partnership after working for three major insurance companies.

The trio’s wives also provided accounts and secretarial support – making it a real family concern.

Joe Pyke and Brian Smith retired many years ago but John continued to work on an almost full-time basis, coming into the office every day in his suit and tie until a month before he died aged 85 in 2016.

Today the firm’s managing director is John’s daughter Philippa Cutler, who grew up around the business and officially joined the firm in 1985 having worked at two major insurance companies.

Philippa said:

“The business was set up to offer professional insurance broking services to mainly local businesses and clients with a strong emphasis on personal service.

“Over the decades, we’ve survived recessions, a complete change in the way the public buys personal insurance with the advent of the internet, Direct Line and the aggregator sites such as Compare the Market, incredibly tough trading conditions and we’ve resisted all offers to sell to a larger firm.

“We remain 100% independent and we’re proud to operate with exactly the same principle we started with in 1970, and the same ones my father held so close to his heart, to put the customer first - always.”

The business has always been in Northampton, starting in Kingsley and moving to its current premises in Wellingborough Road in 1980.

Philippa works alongside fellow director Nicky Mason and three other female members of staff.

She added:

“This milestone is so important to me as it represents a culmination of many years of incredibly hard work in an extremely tough, male dominated and very competitive industry.”

For further information visit http://pykesmithandcutler.co.uk/ or call 01604 627783.


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