Member spotlight…WPA

Tell us about WPA?

WPA are a specialist health insurance provider. We work with companies to help provide healthcare schemes to recruit, retain and reward staff. I am a healthcare partner (franchise owner) with WPA and look after small-medium businesses on a local level.

We are in a competitive industry with the likes of Bupa, Axa PPP, Vitality and Aviva as our competitors. We are different as we provide local, face-to-face advice and personally look after the clients for as long as they are with WPA. Also, WPA are a not-for-profit insurer with a heritage of over 115 years so we are very well established whilst remaining at the forefront of the industry with our technology. 

What has been your biggest business challenge to date?

Like any new business, I think this was launching the business. Being part of a franchise network was brilliant as I got lots of help and advice from my peers, but the first two years were tough but hugely rewarding. This is my eleventh year this year, but I still look back at those first two years as the hardest times in the business.

What has been your greatest or proudest business achievement to date?

I was a finalist two years running for the British Franchise association ‘Franchisee of the year’ awards. There are roughly 44,000 franchise owners in the UK and this ranked me in the top 15 two years running which was a proud moment.

I also work with our head office to recruit and train franchise owners and seeing these people start a business and seeing them grow is also massively rewarding.

What type of clients do you currently work with and who are you looking to meet?

We mainly deal with business owners and I enjoy working with smaller companies as they value the face-to-face service we provide.

Private medical insurance allows people to access private medical treatment quickly without having to wait on the NHS so this is important for self-employed people who need to be working to earn money. Companies also buy this for their staff as an employee benefit and its becoming a really popular option amongst employees as their health is their most important asset.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself that people might not know?

I have different coloured eyes!