Insurance firm April UK, one of the country’s leading providers of income protection and health policies, has opened its new headquarters at Almondsbury Business Centre, North Bristol.
The company has taken the ground and first floors, equivalent to 5,544 sq ft, at one of the centre’s office buildings, which it has renamed April House on a 10-year lease, having relocated from nearby Apex Court.
Around 30 full time staff will work at the site, providing support to the firm’s business consultants and its growing network of brokers who service customers throughout the UK and Ireland. A further 12 staff are likely to be taken on in the coming months as the firm’s workload increases and confidence returns to the insurance sector.
April UK chief executive Sarah Buck said: “With an expanding team here in Bristol, we needed a new office to be our main UK headquarters and Almondsbury Business Centre offers everything we need.
“Our previous office is very close by so we know how good this location is for factors such as transport links and availability of skilled staff, and we're delighted to be moving into April House, which is the perfect home for our business as we grow and expand.”
Natalie Bennett, associate director in the Bristol office agency team of commercial property consultants Hartnell Taylor Cook, who acted on behalf of the landlords, added: "Almondsbury Business Centre has recently been refurbished and offers high quality, modern accommodation from 1,550 sq ft to 7,000 sq ft with great on-site parking included. This provided April UK with a perfect and unique opportunity to relocate to a self-contained HQ here and brand the building as their own.”
April UK was set up in 1997 and provides a range of protection plans, including income protection, life insurance, private medical insurance, personal accident, medical cash, home insurance, commercial insurance and funeral plans, as well as providing cover for professional sportsmen and women.
It recently won the prestigious Top Firm category at the Tenet Leading Lights Annual Awards.
It is part of the international APRIL Group headquartered in Lyon, France, which looks after 6m policyholders in 37 countries worldwide and has a market value of more than £776m.
Other occupiers at Almondsbury Business Centre include Danwood, Barratt Homes, Vistair Systems and Securitas.
Pictured, from left, at the office opening: Isaac Lam, (April UK marketing manager), Sarah Buck (April UK CEO), Sean Cox (3D Business Interiors), Cllr Janet Biggin (South Glos Council chairman) and Cas Francis (April UK area manager)
