Grantham Journal Big Interview: Employee of the Year Alex praises team

If Alex Wade was in any doubt over whether he was performing in his job as business development director at Mark Bates Ltd, being crowned Employee of the Year at the Journal’s Business Awards confirmed how valued he is at the specialist insurance company.

The 34-year-old spoke to us about his role and why he loves his job.

How did you come to work for Mark Bates Ltd, and how long have you been there?

I first worked with Mark Bates after I finished university in 2001. I left MBL to start a graduate opportunity in retail. In 2009 I met with Mark coincidently at a social gathering and he asked me to work with him again. The new insurance scheme that he tasked me with creating and marketing has grown and flourished and is now one of the most successful in the UK market.

What does your role as business development director entail?

My current role focuses on two areas, both of which are crucial to the success of what we do. The first is to meet with organisations and customers that we serve, to see what changes and additional benefits we could provide and ensure that the service we give is second to none. The second area is to develop and launch new products within the sector. I also oversee and have responsibility for the office team with the aid of a fantastic team manager, Janis.

At the awards you talked about being part of a strong team – tell us more about that.

The team that I manage is still quite new. It has grown from just me to 10 staff within six years and continues to grow. Due to this rapid growth the team have had to learn about all parts of the business. They are hardworking and have been instrumental in the development of the bespoke admin and IT systems that we use to ensure that all the organisations we work with have the information that they need. Without the team’s continued hard work and great customer service, we would not be in the position we are now.

* To find out more about Mark Bates Ltd, which specialises in insurance cover for the over-50s and disabled, call 01476 591104.