An Ipswich company is set to move to brand new offices, almost tripling its ground space, to meet fast-growing demand for its pioneering insurance industry services.

Countrywide Accident Assurance Limited (CAA) was established less than five years ago, yet is today a market leader in outsourced claims handling.

Many of CAA´s clients are household names - including Pizza Hut, KFC, BASF, Travis Perkins and Honda. From offices overlooking the River Orwell, in Ipswich´s Felaw Maltings, more than 60 staff handle accident claims arising from thousands of vehicles across the UK.

A key part of CAA´s success has been its ground breaking software programme - CARAT (Claims and Repair Accident Tracking), which was developed in-house. As competitors have followed their lead, CAA has stayed one step ahead. CARAT has the facilities allowing customers to track the progress of their claims themselves on-line.

Shrewd financial management has underpinned CAA´s exceptional growth. Director, David Hayward, explained that the four directors were very "hands on" in the business. Only recently had they brought in a layer of middle management, as the company grew.

With a background in vehicle repairs, rather than finance, he and fellow directors, David Quance, Simon Bennett and Mark Collis, called in help at an early stage. Chris Annis of LB Group Chartered Accountants, who also have offices in Felaw Maltings, has worked alongside CAA every step of the way.

LB Group has ensured that not only is CAA fully compliant with accounts preparation but also that the directors´ tax affairs are as efficient as possible. More guidance has been given recently on cashflow projections, and LB Group has even helped with the recruitment of CAA´s finance staff.

Mr Quance said, "At no stage have we wanted - or needed to - borrow money. But to do that we´ve had to keep a tight rein on expenses and cash flow. The very nature of what we do mean that there can be a long period between doing work for clients and actually receiving payment."

Past experience, working elsewhere, had taught them that bringing in new business could often jeopardise existing contracts and they were determined that would not happen at CAA.

"When we win a new contract we like to have the people in place beforehand so we hit the ground running. Clients don´t want to wait until we´ve trained up a new team, so having the extra staff in place from the start is important. Again, that costs," he added.

"So, it´s been important to us that we forward plan," said David Hayward. "Chris is clearly at home with young, ambitious companies and he has helped us create a strategy that has allowed us to grow quickly, but also in a controlled way.

"It´s been a combination of reacting to situations, but more importantly, being proactive in terms of planning. He´s taken a very commercial view, and that´s made a huge difference to the way that we have been able to develop," he said.




In the picture, from left to right are: Simon Bennett, Mark Collis, both of CAA, Chris Annis from LB Group, David Hayward and David Quance, both of CAA.

Contact Chris Annis:
chris.annis@lbgroupltd.com
www.lbgroup-ipswich.com

• LB Group, 212 Felaw Maltings, 44 Felaw Street, Ipswich IP2 8SJ
  Tel: 01473 407393
• LB Group, Number One, Vicarage Lane, Stratford, London, E15 4HF.
  Tel: 0208 221 8282
• 82 East Hill, Colchester, CO1 2QW.
  Tel: 01206 867551
• 129 New London Road, Chelmsford, CM2 0QT.
  Tel: 01245 254780