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Pink is the new black!

April 2008

Fashions come and fashions go but 'pink is the new black' for van drivers, according to research carried out by Budget Van Insurance. A recent poll of van drivers* found the sensitive/caring side of ‘van man’ is clearly evident with over 90% admitting they would rather have a pink than a black van, if the colour was available.

To help Britain’s van men get in tune with their feminine side, Budget Van Insurance is offering to re-spray 100 vans* a pretty shade of pink and has already changed the working lives of two van men, with a makeover giving their vans a ‘rosy glow’.

Ben Pinkerton, Plymouth said:
“The change in people’s attitudes since my re-spray is unbelievable; instead of the two fingers and clenched fists I usually receive, I now get a smile and a wave when I’m out and about. The girls seem to love it too - I’m tickled pink!”

Ricky Roseberry, said:
“It’s a great idea and I don’t know why van dealers don’t manufacture vans like this in the first place. People on the road are much more friendly and polite; they let me out at junctions now my van is a lovely shade of pink.”

Lisa Corston, Budget Van Insurance said:
“The transformation for our two van men has been incredible and we really think the new colour vans will be a tremendous hit with all customers. Supporting the van man is what we love doing at Budget Van Insurance and this is a great way for them to improve their image and literally get ‘in the pink!’”

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For further information please contact:
Roland Cross/Joanne McGilway
Broadgate                                                                               020 7726 6111

Note to editors:
* Research wasn’t undertaken as this is an April Fools joke! We apologise if you didn’t find our idea funny☺

The BGL Group

The BGL Group, formerly known as Budget Group of Companies (the Group) was founded in 1992 and has grown to become one of the UK’s largest personal lines insurance intermediaries, through a combination of organic growth and a series of major strategic acquisitions (the last major acquisition was five years ago).

The Group now arranges and administers insurance for 1.9 million customers. It operates major contact centre operations (Fusion) in Peterborough, Coventry, Sunderland, Peterlee in the UK, and Cape Town, South Africa. The Group currently employs 2,255 people with its head office in Peterborough.

As an intermediary, the Group is able to access a wide range of underwriters, making it highly competitive in the marketplace, offering core products such as motor, home, commercial vehicle and motorcycle insurance.  The Group also offers a wide range of supplementary products, which include breakdown cover, legal protection, travel insurance, life assurance, pet insurance and mortgage payment protection insurance.

 In 2006 the Group received ‘Intermediary of the Year’ (Insurance Age UK Broker Awards) for its outstanding contribution to the insurance industry.  In April 2007, the Sunday Times’ PricewaterhouseCoopers Profit Track 100 rankings selected the Group as ‘one to watch’.

Budget Van insurance searches a panel of 12 insurers to offer competitively priced van insurance, in addition to exceptional product benefits. In 2006 Budget Van launched various innovative marketing campaigns including ‘it’s a van man thing’ and ‘flying traffic wardens’, which resulted in it being awarded ‘Marketing Campaign of The Year 2006’ (Insurance Times Awards). More recently Budget Van and News of the World have joined forces to produce the Dream Dates Calendar 2008.

BISL Ltd, part of the BGL Group s is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

Registered Address: Pegasus House, Bakewell Road, Orton Southgate, PE2 6YS.
Registered in England no 3231094