Carl Belcher Senior New Business Consultant
I have been working for Tennyson for over ten years and have a background in managing Insurance Sales Teams. In my current role I support our larger clients with identifying their operational and strategic risks, then helping them identify the different ways they can insure against them. I am also responsible for enabling our team with the appropriate levels of underwriting and risk assessment knowledge.
I really enjoy helping my clients solve their insurance problems and identifying cost effective ways to structure their insurance covers.
Caroline Chaston, Cert CII Senior New Business Consultant
I started my career in the world of insurance in September 2008 as a New Business Consultant. Prior to this, I specialised in Project Management within the toiletries and cosmetic industry and have a BSC (Hons) degree in Psychology.
I have worked with a wealth of charities and I enjoy rising to the challenge of engaging with new organisations. I believe that good customer service and doing what you say you will do, when you said you would do it, is the key to building lasting relationships with customers. I think that this is a unique selling point for Tennyson Insurance.
I have a busy life outside of work with two young children and when I have the time enjoy keeping fit, socialising and outdoor activities. Any other spare moments are spent supporting the local primary school as a PTA member.
Caroline Hopgood Account Manager
I have worked in the insurance industry for 20 years, in several different roles and sectors mostly with Brokers. I have always loved the variety that insurance seems to bring to my working life.
I started with Tennyson Insurance in January 2012 and am looking forward to undertaking the challenge of becoming certified by the Chartered Insurance Institute.
I firmly believe in offering our customers a first class service to ensure a smooth and easy transaction. I think it is important to be friendly, to keep in contact, and to be certain that all their demands and needs are met.
Outside of work, I spend a lot of time driving my daughter to the shops, or to friends & out of school clubs which doesn’t leave me much time for myself! When I do have spare time, I enjoy 4x4 off road driving with my husband and friends (although washing the muddy clothes afterwards is not so enjoyable!). I also like music, eating out, socialising, shopping and holidays in the sun.
Ceili Heath-Coleman Account Manager
I started working for Tennyson Insurance in January 2012 having had no prior experience in the field. It’s a daunting experience starting a new job, but joining a welcoming team who are extremely friendly and knowledgeable has made it a lot easier. I feel that the variety of positions I have held in previous jobs has provided me with a wealth of excellent customer service skills and being able to prioritise well; probably due to being a perfectionist. I am looking forward to my new career in insurance and working towards becoming certified by the Chartered Insurance Institute.
When I’m not working I enjoy being creative, whether it’s baking, sewing or making cards. I also enjoy walking in the country or along the beach and have recently climbed Ben Nevis.
Geraldine Twaites Account Manger
I began working in insurance 9 years ago shortly after graduating from University. I worked alongside various brokers and financial advisors in the Life Assurance Industry. During my career I have always worked in customer focused roles and I have gained good knowledge as to how important good customer service is in building relationships and trust with your clients. I am looking forward to the challenge of studying for the Chartered Insurance Institute Certificate and the variety and insight my role at Tennyson will bring.
Outside of work I am a keen follower of sport, especially football (I’m a season ticket holder at Portsmouth), cricket and athletics.
James Batey, Cert CII New Business Consultant
I’ve worked in insurance since 2005, and specifically in charity insurance since 2010 and I can ride a bike. This might not be the extra-curricular dream ticket you were hoping for and you’d be right to think that there’s no obvious link between the two. Stay with me...
I can also run like Forrest Gump and enter a swimming pool without armbands or a lifeguard present. Later this year, I aim to combine all this untapped talent and compete in my first triathlon and marathon with proceeds going to a variety of good causes. Please, please sponsor me.
Insuring charities and looking after their needs is something I take a lot of pride in.
Outside of work my interests include cutting down my alcohol consumption, getting worse at pub sports, thinking of ways to cure writer’s block, running-off second helpings of roast dinner, and whittling down piles of ironing using only the power of the mind. I’m a victim of bachelordom, what’s your excuse?
Lizi Steel New Business Consultant
I started working in the insurance world with Tennyson in September 2008. Prior to this, I have had varied positions including Merchandising, Marketing, Jewellery and Ophthalmics, which I studied at Anglia University.
As a New Business Consultant, I work with charities and the voluntary sector, and I enjoy the challenges my work brings given the variety of different organisations out there. Currently, I am working on achieving the Chartered Insurance Institute Certificate.
In my private life, I am involved with the Women’s Institute, I’m very keen on country sports, off-roading and walking. Last year I completed the South Downs Way, this year I am planning on being as self sufficient as possible by growing my own veg.
Louise Bolton, Cert CII Senior Account Manager
I started in the industry working for a large personal lines Insurer some 12 years ago. Since moving to Tennyson Insurance in March 2010, I have developed my skills to learn about commercial insurance and I have really enjoyed learning how they apply to the charity and not for profit sector.
I have recently passed my insurance exams to gain my Certificate of Insurance from the CII, like many of my colleagues here. I believe that Customer Service is essential and I take a real pride in making sure that I and my team work as hard as we can to meet the needs of our huge range of customers.
Outside of work I enjoy spending quality time with my family and friends.
William Gulland, Cert CII New Business Consultant
I have been working for Tennyson Insurance since 2010, initially as part of the renewals team but have subsequently transferred to sales.
After graduating from Oxford Brookes University with a business degree I worked for Aviva Insurance at Worthing until the offices were closed. I then spent two years travelling and working abroad before coming back to the UK and joining Tennyson Insurance.
My main interests outside of work are music (I play the drums) and windsurfing.
Alex Morris, Cert CII E-commerce Development Analyst
I joined Tennyson in 2010 after graduating from Portsmouth University with a degree in Business Enterprise. This is my first role in the insurance industry, and I’m thoroughly enjoying the variety of challenges it brings. As part of the web team, my role is to make sure we are delivering the best possible service for our online customers at very competitive prices. If you’re reading this then you’ve already found our website, so why not take a look for yourself!
Outside of work I like to keep active – Golf, skiing, squash and sailing on the Solent – but only when the weather is fair!
Guy Stanford, Cert CII
Director
Simon and I established Tennyson Insurance in 2008 and I have been captivated by the challenges of the industry and the particular market which we serve, ever since: the diversity of organisations we work with is mind-boggling and, one might say, inspirational. Going from a standing start to serving nearly three thousand organisations over the past few years has been both exciting and very rewarding. What I particularly enjoy is challenging some of the accepted norms in the industry and striving to deliver the sort of service which I would like to receive.
We are very proud of our people – the Tennyson Insurance team is, I think, as good as you will find anywhere in the industry. Not a bad combination to work with really – great colleagues and interesting customers!
Outside work I enjoy distance running and canoeing, training my three dogs, trying to stop my house falling down and the odd glass of wine.
Rob Irelan Hill Head of IT
Working in support, consultancy and managerial roles, my IT career spans 17 years, including 9 years with Tennyson and Tennyson Insurance. I have experience across a multitude of sectors with 6 years’ specifically in finance, 3 of which are in Insurance.
As an active fundraiser for a number of local charities, it is great to work for a company that both serves and supports the sector. Away from work I am a husband, a father of 3, and a parent school governor of our local primary school. I enjoy running, squash, mountain biking and kayaking whenever possible, and I am an avid Portsmouth FC fan.
Simon Wright Director
When we founded Tennyson Insurance in 2008 it was the first time that I had worked in the world of charities, community groups and social enterprises. Having lived a reasonably virtuous life up to that point I thought that it was a world that I already understood. I was wrong. I hadn’t begun to appreciate the breadth, depth and diversity that characterise the sector, and I’ve enjoyed the hundreds of meetings and conversations that I’ve had since then which have given me a true picture.
I hope that I’ve used this learning to shape our approach as a company, and that the service that we provide is now making a small, but real, contribution to the resilience and success of our customers.
Away from insurance, I am a director of Tennyson Ltd, a sales and marketing company, and a trustee of two charities – one with a national focus and one local. Away from the world of work entirely, I’m a fan of running, swimming, ambling along, literature, Ipswich Town FC, tea drinking, cricket and red wine.