Barry Fehler started his business SEIB Insurance Brokers Ltd as South Essex Insurance Brokers in 1963. The company will celebrate turning 60 years-old this year. There is much to celebrate for this award-winning broker entrenched in insuring businesses and individuals across the equestrian, funeral and private-hire sectors. Renowned for ‘putting something back’ into the markets within which they operate, SEIB Insurance Brokers have teamed up with leading trailer manufacturer, Cheval Liberté to offer one lucky winner a brand new, Cheval Liberté Touring Country two horse trailer worth over £8,500 in 2023.
SEIB’s Chief Executive Officer Suzy Middleton explained: “Celebrating turning 60 is a major milestone for SEIB. Being a part of the communities within which we operate and truly understanding their needs and values is key to our many successful long-term client relationships. We always use top rated insurers to place business and we ensure we have open lines of communication with our customers and are always on-hand to support them. These and our ethical priorities have remained over the years and are well set to continue. Giving back has always been a key theme for the business and we are delighted to have partnered with Cheval Liberté for this celebratory prize draw for one of their top of the range, Touring Country horse trailers.”
Entries for the SEIB 60 Years Trailer Prize Draw are open now at www.seib.co.uk/win-a-trailer. The winner, chosen at random, will receive a Cheval Liberté Touring Country double horse trailer. Nicky Hudson of Cheval Liberté said: “Cheval Liberté are proud to be offering the Touring Country with Tack Room in conjunction with SEIB Insurance Brokers for their 60th anniversary giveaway. What better way to celebrate a Diamond Anniversary than to give away a diamond standard trailer!”
Explaining in more detail about the Cheval Liberté Touring Country double horse trailer, Nicky Hudson continued: “In addition to the lockable, full height Tack Room, our best-selling Touring Country is packed with features, including the signature Pullman 2 suspension for a smoother ride, anodised aluminium sides, four sliding windows, side padding, head partition, automatic jockey wheel, wheel chock and a high-level brake light, not forgetting the mirror in the tack room to make sure your ring ready! This trailer really does have it all – apart from a new owner!”
Company founder, former CEO and now Non-Executive Director, Barry Fehler started SEIB as a brokerage for home, car and life insurance in 1963. Later that decade, he found that he couldn’t find the right cover to insure his own horses so went to the market to arrange cover that fitted the bill. He explained: “The first show hunter I bought, Princes Street, was an expensive horse. When I went to insure him, there were very few equine policies on offer and none that provided the cover I was looking for. I decided to go to market with my requirements and SEIB became the first company to specialise in equestrian insurance. Through understanding the needs of our customers, we went on to offer the first horsebox insurance on the market, this then led on to the addition of SEIB introducing horsebox breakdown cover.”
This commitment to customers is highlighted by several national titles for SEIB over the years at esteemed industry awards including Broker of the Year, the National Insurance Awards and the British Claims Awards. Most recently SEIB were awarded the Marketing and Customer Engagement Award at the UK Broker Awards 2022. SEIB’s Chief Operating Officer, Bipin Thaker said: “The innovations SEIB have brought to the equine insurance market over the years is phenomenal. We were the first company to offer horsebox policies and veteran insurance. Our equine in-house claims team provide such consistency and reassurance for customers by dealing with claims right the way through. Looking to the future we will move with the times, continue to ensure our policies reflect the needs of our customers and we continue to use highly rated insurers.”
Suzy Middleton continued: “Whilst SEIB is now proudly part of the Benefact Group they remain independent. Since 2018 good causes have benefited to the tune of £250,000 through our annual SEIB Giving Awards. These awards will fittingly see a further £60,600 go to charity at the sixth SEIB Awards to be held this Summer.”
‘Putting something back’ for SEIB also encompasses directly supporting its many loyal equine customers both through competition opportunity and welfare improvement. Marketing manager, Nicolina MacKenzie who has been with SEIB for nearly 30-years said: “We are unique at SEIB in running our grassroots, amateur showing competition Search for a Star, set up nearly 30 years ago now. The series has allowed thousands of amateur riders to enjoy competition opportunities at Horse of the Year show – and in more recent times – Your Horse Live, that they otherwise would not have had. Because we understand our customers in the equine industry, we set up the SEIB Yard of the Year Awards in 2019 to reward excellence in the yards that form the backbone of the equine industry. These awards have gone from strength to strength and in 2023, there are six categories for the public to nominate in.”
From providing opportunity within grass roots competition right through to the company’s contributions to good causes, SEIB’s ethos of constant support and providing opportunity is well set to continue.
To find out more about SEIB Insurance Brokers Ltd and the policies it offers please visit www.seib.co.uk.
