Shaping Coversure Chigwell’s successful first year
When Coversure Chigwell opened its doors in August last year, it marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter for four family members who had decided to embark on a business venture together.
As one of the brokerage’s joint directors, Remi Mandair joined forces with her fellow directors, each bringing their own experience, strengths and industry knowledge to the table. Twelve months on, the team has built a successful and growing brokerage, exceeded key performance benchmarks and established a reputation for excellent client service across their local community.
For Remi, the journey has been one of learning, personal growth and discovering new opportunities along the way.
Bringing diverse experience into a new venture
Before helping launch Coversure Chigwell, Remi had worked across several customer-focused sectors including the motor trade, the charity sector, and the building and electrical industries.
Her experience in administration, customer service and business operations, combined with exposure to insurance products during her time in the motor trade, provided a strong foundation for the next stage of her career.
While commercial broking introduced new areas of technical knowledge, Remi joined a leadership team that brought together different professional backgrounds, industry experience and complementary skillsets.
I recognised that I had a lot of transferable skills in customer service, administration, organisation and communication, and I could build on those while continuing to develop my insurance knowledge.
Remi Mandair, Director at Coversure Chigwell
Four family members, one shared ambition
Coversure Chigwell is not your typical brokerage start-up. The business was founded by four family members who brought together different experiences, strengths and perspectives to launch their own office.
“The four of us are family, so unlike some business partnerships, we didn’t have to go very far to find each other!” Remi laughs.
That family connection has brought a unique dynamic to the business. While some of the directors shared a background in the motor trade, none had previously owned or operated an insurance brokerage. The first year has therefore been a process of learning together, supporting one another and gradually finding where each person adds the most value.
“In the beginning, everyone did a bit of everything. As we grow, we’re starting to find our own areas and specialisms – we’re also beginning to develop our identity, both as individuals and as a brokerage.”
Remi Mandair, Director at Coversure Chigwell
The conversation that changed everything
The decision to open Coversure Chigwell didn’t come from years of planning or a carefully mapped-out business strategy. It simply started with a conversation.
One of the directors was already a Coversure client and what began as a routine discussion about an invoice gradually evolved into a wider conversation about what it takes to run a Coversure brokerage.
“We wanted to understand more about the opportunity and whether it could work for us.”
The team began exploring the possibility alongside Coversure’s Network Director, Jordan Maskell, and soon found themselves working through the due diligence and onboarding process. Less than a year later, Coversure Chigwell was born.
“I quite like the fact there wasn’t some grand master plan. A fairly ordinary conversation became an opportunity and we were willing to explore where it might lead.”
More than a network
For the Chigwell team, joining Coversure wasn’t simply about gaining access to insurance markets. It was about finding a partner that could provide the infrastructure, expertise and support needed to launch a successful brokerage while still allowing them to build a business of their own.
Remi says the professionalism of the process stood out from the outset: “The level of due diligence was incredibly reassuring. It gave us confidence that Coversure takes seriously who they bring into the network.”
It also became an unexpected confidence boost.
Coming from outside commercial broking, Remi naturally found herself focusing on what she didn’t yet know. The onboarding process encouraged her to recognise the experience and strengths she was already bringing to the business.
In some ways, Coversure and my fellow directors saw something in me that I hadn’t fully recognised in myself.
Remi Mandair, Director at Coversure Chigwell
Learning every day
Ask Remi about the biggest challenge of the first year and the answer is immediate: “The learning curve.”
Launching a brokerage has required constant learning, from insurer training and compliance requirements to systems, processes and customer conversations.
The Coversure support network has played a significant role in Chigwell’s development. From the onboarding guidance provided by Andrew Misseldine and Charlotte Sainsbury to support from Steve Hill and fellow Coversure offices across the network, Remi says there has always been someone willing to help.
“What I’ve learned is that the support doesn’t stop once you’ve opened the doors.”
Finding a voice through marketing
A naturally creative person, Remi has embraced the challenge of helping build awareness of the brokerage in its local market.
“Somewhere along the way I’ve become Coversure Chigwell’s self-proclaimed content creator.”
It’s a role she has grown to love.
The challenge, she says, is making insurance engaging without losing the professionalism and expertise behind it as “insurance doesn’t exactly scream fun.” Yet through social content and brand awareness campaigns, she’s helped put Chigwell’s personality front and centre.
Working closely with Coversure’s Marketing Executive, Frankie Tabor, has also given her an appreciation for the collaborative nature of marketing across the network.
“It’s been great to share ideas and see some of that feedback influence wider initiatives across Coversure.”
Looking back with pride
Reflecting on Chigwell’s first year, Remi laughs when asked about the original goals: “Honestly, I think the first goal was getting the computer to turn on!”
But beneath the humour is a genuine sense of pride.
Following their first annual review, the team discovered they had performed above the benchmark against which they were being measured. More importantly, they had built a reputation for excellent client service and earned glowing feedback from customers.
Whatever numbers we achieve, knowing our clients feel supported and looked after is really important to us.
Remi Mandair, Director at Coversure Chigwell
For Remi personally, the biggest achievement has been her own growth.
There were times before launching the business when confidence didn’t come easily. Today, she’s not only helping build a successful brokerage but has also begun her Cert CII journey and is actively planning the next stage of her professional development.
“The more I learn about insurance, the more I want to learn.”
Advice for other women
As part of our Women in Insurance series, Remi’s message for other women considering a career in the industry is to “give yourself more credit.”
She believes too many people focus on what they don’t know rather than recognising the strengths they already possess.
And for anyone wondering whether to take the leap into a new role, a new challenge or even a new business venture, she offers one final thought: “Instead of asking yourself what could go wrong, ask yourself: what could happen if it actually goes right?”
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At Coversure, we’re proud to champion the women driving innovation, growth and success across our community of brokers.
