Forty-Five Years in the Heart of North Tyneside: Our Story So Far
The world looked a little different back in 1981. Amidst the changing landscape of the North East, a small and independent dream was taking root. Our founder, Graham Bestford, started a small independent insurance brokerage with a simple philosophy.
He believed that people deserve honest advice, personal service, and an insurance broker they can genuinely rely on. That business began life as G.J. Bestford & Co, serving local individuals and businesses across the region with a hands-on, relationship-first approach.
Forty-five years later, that family-run heart remains completely unchanged.
Over the decades, our business has naturally evolved alongside the people and communities we serve. In 2008, the company rebranded to become Bestford and Company, continuing as a partnership while expanding our presence and reputation throughout the region. As the business grew, so did the next generation’s involvement.
In 2016, the firm transitioned into a Limited Liability Partnership, with Simon Bestford officially becoming a partner in the business. Another proud milestone arrived in 2021 when we became Bestford Insurance Brokers Ltd, marking a new chapter in our journey while maintaining the core family values and independent spirit that Graham instilled from the beginning. This time Simon and Jo Bestford became the next generation of the business.
While our modern base is now at the Cobalt Business Park, our commitment to being a friend next door is just as strong today as it was over four decades ago. For us, being a local broker has never been about just selling a policy. It is about the decades of conversations we have had over the phone or at a kitchen table, the local businesses we have watched grow from startup ideas into pillars of the community.
We have always felt that as an insurance business, we carry a unique responsibility. We are not just here for the easy days. In a world increasingly driven by automated call centres and generic online forms, we pride ourselves on being approachable, accessible, and genuinely invested in our clients’ wellbeing.
Whether it is helping a local business recover after an unexpected loss, guiding a business through a difficult claim, or simply being available at the end of the phone when someone needs straightforward advice, our role has always been about more than just policies and paperwork.
This sense of protection extends beyond our day-to-day client work and into the community that has sustained us for nearly half a century. We believe in putting our values into action, which is why our recent fundraising efforts for Cash for Kids were so important to the whole team. To us, success is not just measured by business growth or renewals. It is measured by the positive impact we can make within the communities around us.
Many of our clients who are local are the business owners that we also use as a family, from taking our family out for ice cream, to going for a meal in our local pub. We often re-invest the money we make into local businesses as we value them being on our doorstep.
As we celebrate this 45th birthday, we find ourselves looking back with immense gratitude. We are incredibly grateful to the clients, partners, and local businesses who have trusted us over the decades. Many of these relationships now span generations, and that loyalty means everything to us.
Looking ahead, we are continuing to invest in technology, innovation, and modern ways of working to ensure we provide the best possible service for years to come. But while the industry continues to evolve, our promise remains exactly the same as it was in 1981: straightforward advice, personal service, and protection you can depend on.
If you have not worked with us before, we would love the opportunity to show you what makes a local independent broker different. Why not pick up the phone and let's have a chat? Get in touch with our team today for a free, no-obligation quote.