A Herefordshire NFU Group Secretary is celebrating after his branch was named the NFU Mutual insurance group of the year.
The Hereford branch was also given a special award by the NFU's sister company for outstanding achievement in the competition after winning the top prize in various guises an amazing 14 times in 30 years and four times in the last five years.
Chris Hillyard was presented with both awards at a glittering ceremony at the Montreux Palace Hotel in Switzerland, which was attended by the top 50 group secretaries out of 380 NFU Mutual offices.
Ant the whole event was a big success for Herefordshire as a county with four out of five offices represented in the top 50.
"To win the competition these days means you have to achieve high performance targets in all parts of the business so it is a real test of team performance," said Mr Hillyard.
Mr Hillyard believes the agency can go on to bigger and better things now that he has been joined by Shrewsbury group secretary Alan Hudson as his partner and immediate deputy.
"We have known each other since we were teenagers and Alan is vastly experienced as he is also a life long NFU Mutual career man," added Mr Hillyard.
"I have got him on board because I wish to maintain highest customer standards on a client base that is ever increasing. We are able to move forward now in terms of more complex business solutions.
"The agency is further complemented by full time financial consultant Paul Broadley. Paul has been with us seven years and has 25 years industry experience.
"He is highly qualified in financial law and technically very proficient. He is very well known throughout our client base of course.
"Our approach is straightforward and uncomplicated. Clients want personable, attentive and reliable advice delivered locally.
"The infrastructure maintained by NFU Mutual in the face of an industry moving to call centres and distant service is proof that the old-fashioned recipe is still very much in demand."
Chris, Alan and Paul are ably supported by a team of five members of staff who collectively have nearly 100 years service between them.
