Business

Autoline opens new agri-business centre of excellence in Enniskillen

First Minister Arlene Foster opens the Autoline Enniskillen office watched by (from left) Autoline's Michael Blaney (managing director), Caroline Currie (sales director), Richard Henderson (branch manager) and Julie Gibbons (operations director). Picture by Andrew Paton, Press Eye
First Minister Arlene Foster opens the Autoline Enniskillen office watched by (from left) Autoline's Michael Blaney (managing director), Caroline Currie (sales director), Richard Henderson (branch manager) and Julie Gibbons (operations director). Picture First Minister Arlene Foster opens the Autoline Enniskillen office watched by (from left) Autoline's Michael Blaney (managing director), Caroline Currie (sales director), Richard Henderson (branch manager) and Julie Gibbons (operations director). Picture by Andrew Paton, Press Eye

AUTOLINE Insurance Group is expanding its operations in Fermanagh with the creation of five jobs at a new agri-business centre of excellence in Enniskillen

The company, which employs 180 staff at five offices, set up in Fermanagh three years ago, and since then its office has grown rapidly, generating record sales in excess of £2 million last year and outgrowing its existing premises, where it currently employs nine people.

Indeed Autoline is now the fastest-growing broker in Fermanagh, providing a range of personal and business insurance products, but with a particularly strong presence in the farms sector.

First Minister Arlene Foster, who officially opened the office, said: “Autoline is a prime example of the entrepreneurial talent and expertise we have in Northern Ireland and is another significant success story for one of our local companies.

“Through well established industry links, this company has built its skill base, particularly within the agricultural field, resulting in this expansion and recruitment in Enniskillen.”

Richard Henderson, Autoline’s Enniskillen branch manager, said: “In a few short years we will have increased our staff in Enniskillen by almost fivefold as the business has gone from strength to strength.

“Growth has come by offering great products at great prices and excellent customer service. Part of that service comes through a strong local presence which gives customers easy access to our professional team.

“Our business in Fermanagh is split roughly half and half between personal and business customers. Agri-business has grown strongly and with the increased team we expect to achieve 40 per cent growth in that sector alone this year and double the entire agri-business book by 2019.”

Autoline’s managing director Michael Blaney added: “When we decided to open in Fermanagh it was because we believed there was huge potential, particularly in the agri sector, and that people would be receptive to our way of doing business.

“All those expectations have been exceeded, and in less than four years growth has been so strong we’ve outgrown our original office space and have had to keep adding staff to the local team.

"The Enniskillen office has been a great addition to Autoline and now includes a dedicated hub for the entire group’s growing agri-sector book.”