Award-winning Bristol health and protection insurer National Friendly has extended its partnership with software development company Spark! Data Systems, which is also based in the city.
Spark! will continue to deliver and support National Friendly’s policy administration and customer services platform Odyssey, which it uses across its range of insurance products. 
Spark!, which has been in business for more than 20 years, will also help National Friendly to become more flexible in its core business by enabling the rapid deployment of product changes and enhancements, which will ultimately feed into the society’s desire to become more competitive by being more responsive to market needs.
The system also brings important benefits to IFA partners through more accurate and faster data reporting, and more rapid payment of commissions.
National Friendly CEO Graham Singleton, pictured, said: “We are very pleased to extend the partnership with Spark as a part of our core insurance business.
“The strategic goal is to combine our industry expertise and growth plans with the support of Spark’s platform development capabilities.
“We have already successfully launched two new income protection products and will be looking to grow into other areas with the support of Spark.
“It is also good to continue using Spark, as a business which is local to us.”
Spark co-founder and director Lee Fedder added: “This partnership is a positive step forward for both our organisations, Spark has a clear focus and history of delivering critical solutions in the protection market and we are delighted to cement our long-term relationship for the future.
“By leveraging National Friendly’s desire to grow their own market share, this new partnership will also allow us to better support the needs of the end consumer.”
National Friendly, a mutual society established in 1868, specialises in private medical insurance, guaranteed life assurance, assisted living insurance, savings and investments.
It has no shareholders and exists to serve the best interests of its 33,400 members.
