Staff at Perth insurance broker BNIB Fraser Tennant celebrated their relocation from Perth Auction Mart to new town centre offices in the presence of one of the firm’s original founders.
Roley Fraser, retired chairman of United Auctions, who set up Fraser Tennant in the 1960s, officially opened the company’s new corporate premises in Robertson House on Whitefriars Crescent yesterday (July 23rd).
Joined by BNIB Fraser Tennant’s current manager, Iain Murray, and clients and other guests, the occasion was marked by Mr Fraser unveiling an engraved plaque.
Coincidentally, during the same week 40 years ago, Mr Fraser moved the company into a purpose-built prefab across the road on Glasgow Road where Majestic Wine now stands. As a specialist agricultural insurance broker, the company opened its Glasgow Road office because of its proximity to the old Highland Mart, then later followed the auction out of town. BNIB Fraser Tennant has now turned full circle by coming back to the town centre.
‘Fraser Tennant has a long-standing history offering specialist livestock insurance,’ said Mr Fraser. ‘It is entirely fitting that the company should return to its early roots close to where Perth’s Highland Mart once stood and how extraordinary that we are celebrating again exactly 40 years on, almost to the day.’
Branch manager, Iain Murray, said that while the company would remain strongly connected to the agricultural sector, the relocation to Robertson House was also a strategic move to accommodate a growing number of corporate clients.
‘We are now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Broker Network Insurance Brokers Limited and as such have developed the commercial side of our operations beyond recognition,’ he said. ‘Our larger, modern premises offer a more businesslike environment for all our clients.’
Martyn Denney, Managing Director of BNIB Ltd., explained that BNIB Fraser Tennant also had the added advantage of being part of Towergate Group – the UK’s largest and fastest growing insurance intermediary. ‘This gives our clients in Perthshire unprecedented access to a wide range of competitive commercial products without losing that personal touch. You could call it a national portfolio being delivered locally.’
Known primarily in the area for his auctioneering expertise, Roley Fraser set up Fraser Tennant in 1968 having spotted a gap in the market for specialist livestock insurance, in particular for prize bulls.
‘In those days we called ourselves the very catchy ‘United Auctions Livestock Insurance Brokers Limited’! Then Andrew Tennant joined us and we changed the name to Fraser Tennant.’
Mr Fraser entertained staff and clients at the opening with reminiscences about how Fraser Tennant first came into existence. Guests were shown old photographs and original press cuttings to while Mr Fraser congratulated the current BNIB Fraser Tennant team for their willingness and ability to adapt with the times.
‘When the company was set up all those years ago we knew we were offering cattle breeders something quite unique. It is this specialist insurance knowledge and level of service that remains with BNIB Fraser Tennant today. Survival in business is about change and growth and the move to these splendid new offices is a fine example of this. I wish Mr Murray and his staff every future success.’
‘It has been a real privilege to have Roley officially open our new office,’ said Iain Murray. ‘We will always be closely associated with the agricultural market and the auction mart but the time was also right for us to move on.’
BNIB Fraser Tennant offers a full range of bespoke commercial insurance solutions to all types of business and has a practical working knowledge of the region’s livestock and agricultural businesses.
< Back to News page
Enjoy bespoke cover that’s crafted to fit your business