Thirty years ago, Jackie Hyde was happy working as an insurance underwriter with a large corporate. Then she started a family, and realised she needed a role which would give her more freedom to juggle motherhood and a career. She applied for and won a post as an account handler at Bolton-based Stanmore Insurance Brokers, and never looked back. Having been made a director, she then became a shareholder, and today she owns 66% of the business. All this despite many trials down the years, including caring for a son with Asperger’s, beating breast cancer, and dealing successfully with several business crises.
“Insurance broking at senior level in still a very male-dominated sector,” she says. “I am generally the only women in the room at conferences and broker meetings and my passion has been tested many times. My way of working is very different from my male colleagues and at times, including very recently, I feel the female leadership style has failed to be recognised and respected. I am passionate about changing this.”
Successes within Stanmore include developing a children’s national nursery scheme from nothing up to a £2m account. Both she and the company have won a number of business awards in recent years.
We are very proud to have Stanmore Insurance as our Headline Sponsors for Inspire Awards 2020