Timeline

Chris Caunce & Martin O’Hara set up Caunce O’Hara & Company (3^rd Floor, Mynshulls House, Cateaton St, Manchester) with two phones lines and one mobile phone between them. The very foundations of Caunce O’Hara were forged because Chris and Martin believed that customers were not being treated in the right way, and they set out to change that. Our company DNA began with customer care, and we have been proud to continue to service clients in this way ever since.

Launch of the Freelancing & Contractors Scheme. Caunce O’Hara differentiated their brokerage by being the first to set up a scheme for professional indemnity and liability insurance for freelance contractors, allowing contractors to buy insurance online. As a relatively new start up and small company, we used the internet and email very extensively early on compared to our peers.

The development of the Freelance scheme created a unique opportunity in the Umbrella space. Many of these businesses were, at the time, faced with the inability to get fit for purpose insurance cover for their operations given their highly unique requirements. A fully bespoke tailored product was built by Caunce O’Hara to service this sector. It was the first of it’s kind and a testament to Chris and Martin’s dedication to provide a broking service to customers that was unmatched.

This move has not only reinforced our dedication to the contract and temporary employment sector but has also positioned us as the market leader in the umbrella industry. To this day, we continue to be the foremost provider of insurance solutions to the umbrella sector, showcasing our unwavering commitment and expertise.

New product launch from Caunce O’Hara – ‘Distinction’, a prestigious home and contents insurance scheme for the discerning client. Unique in the principle that each client’s requirements should be individually brokered, rather than the call centre offering of many competitors.

We started supporting Beechwood Cancer Care back in 2005 with our annual golf day and have been delighted to be able to continue supporting their important work ever since. Beechwood is a special charity, offering free support to those affected by cancer, and their loved ones. Their specialists provide a range of support from one-to-one counselling to group sessions, whether you’re at the very beginning of a diagnosis or have finished treatment.

At the Insurance Age UK Broker Awards 2007 Caunce O’Hara won ‘Most Effective Use of E-Business’ in recognition of the new scheme developed to meet the growing demands of a niche market.

At the Insurance Institute of Manchester Awards in 2010, Caunce O’Hara picked up the accolade of ‘The General Broker of the Year Award’.

Further development of the team meant it was necessary to move premises again, this time to 82 King Street, Manchester.

We are proud to be one of the longest standing sponsors of the Speed of Sight charity, who do magical work in transforming the lives of people of all ages and abilities, through inclusive driving experiences.  We support them both directly through our fundraising efforts, and through membership of their Inspire 25 Club.

We held a Sports Day at Sale FC, as an opportunity to bring together clients, suppliers and insurers.  Events included tug of war, dodgeball, three-legged racing, wheelbarrow racing, egg and spoon, 100m dash and plenty more!  All funds raised on the day were donated to Claire House Children’s Hospice.

The freelancers and contractors scheme was sold to Markel Ltd, who retained the business name Caunce O’Hara & Company.  This led to the formation of Caunce O’Hara Insurance Brokers Ltd (COHIBL), as you know us now, and meant that we were once again 100% owned by our Directors.  The Corporate side of the business, along with Umbrella, Commercial and High Net Worth departments, were all retained and a new home was found at 81 King Street, Manchester.

We moved into our current premises at 19 York Street, due to expansion of the team. Our new home is a lot more fitting to the business, including areas for collaboration and staff entertainment.

Reuben’s Retreat are a charity based in Glossop that provide the most amazing support to families who have suffered the loss of a child, or have a child living with medical complexities. We were delighted to be able to support them in securing a donation of £5,000 from the Aviva Community Brokers Awards in 2023 and have continued to support them ever since through their golf events and annual REUBall.

10,000 trees planted! In a time of climate change, we partnered with Ecologi – an organisation who help compensate towards our carbon footprint by funding climate projects and planting trees in some of the most heavily deforested areas.  We plant two trees for every policy that is renewed with us each month and have so far planted over 10,000 trees in various projects around the world. You can view our COHIBL forest here.

Chris Caunce and Martin O’Hara celebrate thirty years of partnership in business this year.  As proud owners of what remains a truly independent business with clients at the forefront of everything they do, they are excited about what the business will achieve in the future, happy in the knowledge that the name Caunce O’Hara will be around for many years to come.