More than a policy: Why local knowledge still matters in insurance

In an increasingly automated world, Sabre Insurance Services pride themselves on championing local expertise, personal relationships and taking the time to understand every client's individual needs. We spoke to Broker Manager Andrew King about what makes the family-run brokerage different.

For many people, arranging insurance has become a digital transaction - a series of online questions, an instant quote and another annual renewal completed with little more than a few clicks.

According to Andrew King, Broker Manager at Sabre Insurance Services, that's where important details can be overlooked. He says: "We pride ourselves on providing a local service with a personal touch. Rather than directing people through call centres, we take the time to understand what they do, what they don't do and what they actually need from their insurance."

That conversation lies at the heart of the business. Whether clients choose to visit their Kingsbridge offices or arrange an on-site meeting, the aim is always to ensure they get insurance that genuinely reflects their circumstances, rather than simply ticking boxes on an online form.

"It's about making sure people have the right level of cover in place," Andrew says. "Everyone's situation is different, and that's why understanding the individual is so important."

A family business built on relationships

Sabre Insurance Services is a family business that operates with the same hands-on approach today as when it began. With around 10 people across the business, including a team of five insurance brokers, the company remains owner-led, with the family actively involved in its day-to-day operation.

That size is something Andrew notes as an advantage: "Because we're a relatively small team, clients know who they're speaking to. We build relationships and really get to know the businesses and people we work with."

Serving customers across Kingsbridge, Salcombe, Dartmouth and the surrounding area, the brokerage has developed a reputation for combining professional expertise with genuine local understanding.

Looking beyond the obvious

While Sabre Insurance Services can arrange everything from motor insurance to standard personal policies, Andrew explains that the firm really comes into its own when dealing with more complex insurance needs.

"We work with a large number of contractors," he says. "With so much building and renovation work taking place in Salcombe and the surrounding areas, it's a sector where we've built a great deal of experience."

It's often these more specialist risks where expert advice can make all the difference. Andrew adds: "Many people don't realise that the type of work they carry out can have a significant impact on the insurance they need. Taking the time to understand exactly what a contractor does means we can arrange cover that's appropriate for their business and help avoid unexpected gaps in protection if they ever need to make a claim."

Rather than simply matching businesses to standard insurance products, Andrew says the team spends time understanding how each business operates before recommending appropriate cover. "Every business is different," he says. "We take the time to understand our clients and the risks they face before making any recommendations.

The same approach extends across the company's growing property portfolio, which ranges from commercial investment properties and holiday homes to residential lets with a variety of tenant types.

"We insure all kinds of property," Andrew says; "It could be a high-rise building in London or two flats in a converted house in Salcombe. Every property is different."

Local knowledge that can't be replicated

Perhaps the business’s greatest strength is that everyone at Sabre Insurance Services lives locally. Andrew grew up in Kingsbridge and now lives in Ivybridge, while the wider team all know the South Hams exceptionally well. 

That local knowledge regularly proves invaluable: "If someone comes to us with a listed holiday home, for example, we often already know the area and understand what we're looking at," Andrew explains. The same applies when considering factors such as flooding or other location-specific risks. As a result, rather than seeing a postcode on a screen, the team sees real places, real buildings and real communities.

Andrew highlights: "We understand the history of different areas and how to approach more complex properties. That local knowledge can be incredibly reassuring for clients because these are decisions and costs that impact their lives and their peace of mind."

Supporting an evolving community

The industry specifics of the South Hams also shapes the business. Alongside construction and property, marine insurance plays an important role, with activity increasing significantly between April and August as boat owners prepare for the season.

"That's one of our busiest times of year," Andrew says; "People are buying boats, renewing policies and preparing for the summer."

For a brokerage embedded within the local community, these seasonal patterns are an essential part of understanding the people it serves. Ultimately, that's what Andrew believes continues to set Sabre Insurance Services apart.

He says: "Insurance shouldn't just be a standard box-checking exercise. Our role is to understand our clients properly and make sure they have cover that's right for them."

In a world increasingly driven by automation, that commitment to personal service, local expertise and genuine conversations remains as valuable as ever.

Find out more about Sabre Insurance Services.