{{Short description|English insurance broker}} {{Infobox company | name = Devitt Insurance Services Limited | logo = Devittinsurance.jpg | type = Privately owned | industry = Financial services | founded = {{Start date |1936 }} | founder = Howson Foulger Devitt | hq_location_city = Romford | hq_location_country = United Kingdom | key_people = William Hughes (Managing Director)<br />Tony Chapman (Financial Director) | area_served = | products = Insurance | num_employees = 130 | num_employees_year = 2024 | parent = | owner = | website = {{url|www.devittinsurance.com}} }} '''Devitt Insurance Services''' is a British privately owned insurance broker based in Romford, England founded in 1936. {{As of |2024 }}, Devitt had circa 130,000 customers,{{citation needed|date=February 2024}} and employed around 130 staff.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}
Devitt is an insurance broker specialising in vehicle insurance for cars, vans and motorcycles, but also arranges home insurance and business insurance.
They compare quotes from a panel of underwriters, which includes Ageas, Aviva, KGM, LV and Sabre.
==History== Devitt's roots began with Thomas Henry Devitt who founded Devitt and Moore<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects|title=Collection Results | Royal Museums Greenwich|website=www.rmg.co.uk}}</ref> in 1836. His grandson Howson Foulger Devitt formed the company that would eventually become Devitt Insurance Services.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.devittinsurance.com/blog/devitt-history/|title=The History of Devitt - Devitt Insurance Services|website=www.devittinsurance.com}}</ref>
In 1936, the Devitt 'DU' motorcycle was launched. It was an innovative idea to sell motorcycle insurance through motorcycle dealers. It allowed customers to ride away from the dealers on their motorcycle on the same day. The scheme was launched in conjunction with "H.P." Motor Policies at Lloyd's.
Devitt 'DU' changes to Devitt 'DA' (Dealers Association) in 1955 and made a massive impact on marketing campaigns for years to come.
1965 saw the creation of Devitt Langton & Dawnay Day Ltd, formed as a holding company for the Devitt broking interests. This meant a shareholding in Langton Underwriting Agencies at Lloyd's and backed by Dawnay Day, a small merchant bank.
The holding company established in 1965 changed its name to Devitt Group Ltd in 1979, due to the expansion of the Devitt broking operations, the sale of the Langton interests and the demise of Dawnay Day.
Steel Burrill Jones Group plc (SBJ) purchased Devitt Group Ltd in 1989.
In 1990, Devitt Insurance Services Ltd was formed, merging the personal lines and affinity group business which had been developed within the Devitt Group Ltd by its subsidiary companies; Howson F Devitt & Sons Ltd, Devitt DA and Double Cox Tyrie.
Churchill acquired Devitt Insurance Services in 1999.<ref>{{Cite web|date=7 October 1999|title=Churchill buys Devitt Insurance|url=https://www.insurancetimes.co.uk/churchill-buys-devitt-insurance/1358712.article|access-date=2 December 2020|website=Insurance Times}}</ref>
In 2003, Royal Bank of Scotland bought Churchill group, including Devitt, for £1.1 billion.<ref>{{Cite web|date=12 June 2003|title=Royal Bank of Scotland Buys Churchill from CSG's Winterthur|url=https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/international/2003/06/12/29809.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050124202628/http://www.insurancejournal.com:80/news/international/2003/06/12/29809.htm |archive-date=2005-01-24 |access-date=2 December 2020|website=Insurance Journal}}</ref>
Keep Britain Biking (KBB) is an online biking community site launched in 2010 and sponsored by Devitt Insurance.
Devitt Insurance completed a management buy-out in 2011<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.insurancetimes.co.uk/rbs-insurance-sells-bike-broker-devitt-in-mbo/1388444.article|title = RBS Insurance sells bike broker Devitt in MBO}}</ref> and was owned by William Hughes (Managing Director) and Tony Chapman (Finance Director). Following this, Devitt bought Screentrade from Lloyds TSB. Devitt were arranging car insurance for Screentrade whilst they were both owned by Lloyds. Screentrade was one of the first online insurance/brokers comparison sites.
2016 marked the 80th anniversary of Devitt arranging motorcycle insurance for UK bikers.
In 2017, Devitt sponsored the "As Seen From The Sidecar" team who circumnavigated the globe in 18 months raising awareness on modern slavery in their Honda scooter and sidecar.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.devittinsurance.com/blog/as-seen-from-the-sidecar-return-to-the-uk/|title=As Seen From The Sidecar return to the UK | Devitt Insurance|website=www.devittinsurance.com}}</ref>
In 2018 Devitt worked with road safety charity Brake to sponsor their Road Safety Week campaign.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.brake.org.uk/how-we-help/raising-awareness/our-current-projects/news-and-blogs/a-big-thank-you-for-being-bike-smart-this-road-safety-week|title=A big thank you for being Bike Smart this Road Safety Week|website=Brake}}</ref>
In February 2022, Devitt was purchased by Gallagher for an undisclosed sum.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ajg.com/uk/news-and-insights/2022/february/gallagher-acquires-devitt-insurance-services/|title=Gallagher acquires Devitt Insurance Services|date=February 1, 2022|website=Gallagher UK}}</ref> William Hughes and Tony Chapman, who oversaw the management buyout from the Royal Bank of Scotland in 2011, have remained with the business.
thumb|As Seen From The Sidecar Gordon Stuart, also known as "The Arctic Rider", has been sponsored by Devitt since 2014<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://arcticride.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html|title=Sponsors|website=arcticride.blogspot.com}}</ref> Stuart holds fundraising rides on his motorbike to raise money for charity, including riding the Arctic Circle in 2014, Iron Butt Challenge in 2016 and a Dalton Highway challenge in summer 2018.
Other brands include Screentrade, which arranges car, van and motorbike insurance.
With offices in Romford and Ipswich, Devitt has around 130 members of staff.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.keepbritainbiking.com Keep Britain Biking]
Category:Financial services companies established in 1936 Category:Insurance companies of the United Kingdom Category:1936 establishments in the United Kingdom