Group History
The history of the Admiral Group is one of amazing growth and inspired innovation. Admiral launched in January 1993 with just one brand, zero customers and 57 members of staff. However, at December 2009, the Group had thirteen brands, over 2.08 million customers insured and over 3500 members of staff worldwide.
Year - 2018
December
Through our newly formed Ministry of Giving, we
announced donations of £100,000 over two years to four charities. The charities receiving the
donations are Llamau, Maggie’s, Royal Voluntary Service and Wooden Spoon and the funding will enable
them to fund tangible and sustainable projects in the cities where our UK offices are based.
October
We were named the 20th best workplace in the world in
the annual 25 Great Place to Work’s World’s Best Workplaces list. More than 12 million employees
from over 7,000 companies around the globe participated in the survey process which assessed
employees’ views on leadership, organisational culture, and trust.
May
ConTe.it celebrates its 10th birthday
May
Admiral welcomed its 10,000th employee who has started
work in the company’s Claims department in Cardiff. When we launched in 1993, we had just 57 members
of staff based in Cardiff. 25 years later, we now employ 10,000 members of staff in eight different
countries across the world.
April
Admiral insured it 4 millionth car
meaning we now insure 1 in 7 cars in the UK. The first car we insured was an Isuzu Piazza Turbo
Coupe 2 Door Saloon and our four millionth car is a Peugeot 108.
January
Admiral celebrates its 25th birthday. Launched on 2nd
January 1993 with just one brand, zero customers and 57 members of staff, Admiral now has 15 brands
around the world with over 5 million customers, and 9,000 members of staff (over 6,300 of these in
South Wales).
Year - 2017
May
Confused.com celebrated it's 15th birthday with a big party!
February
As well as coming 2nd in Best Big Companies to Work For, Admiral Group received a special award for Discovering Potential and CEO David Stevens won Best Leader.
January
Admiral Group exceeded the 5 million customers mark
Year - 2016
August
The world's most famous driver James Corden stars in Confused.com's new TV ad campaign, that sees us return to focus on the driver finding savings on motor products, as well as championing driver's rights.
June
Our American direct insurer Elephant Auto expanded into two new states - Indiana and Tennessee.
May
David Stevens became the new CEO of Admiral Group.
March
Henry Engelhardt and wife Diane announced a surprise parting gift at our annual Staff General Meeting, revealing they would give £1,000 to all full time employees and £500 to all part time employees across the Group.
February
CEO Henry Engelhardt won the Best Leader award at the Sunday Times Best Companies To Work For awards ceremony for the 3rd year running, coming first in the leadership category for big companies. Admiral Group came 6th in the list of Best Big Companies To Work For.
Year - 2015
October
Admiral Group were named the Best Motor Insurance Provider in the Personal Finance Awards for the third time in a row. The results of these awards are based entirely on consumer votes and aim to celebrate the best businesses and products within the UK’s personal finance markets.
August
We launched a brand new website called Carfused.com. Carfused is the one-stop shop that brings you insurance, finance and a huge range of used and new cars together all in one place, completely free to use and linked with Confused.com.
May
Admiral Group’s CEO and founder Henry Engelhardt announced he would be stepping down from his role as CEO in one year’s time. He also announced co-founder and COO David Stevens will be his replacement.
February
Admiral Group’s new headquarters, Tŷ Admiral, was officially opened by members of the Welsh rugby team. Staff numbers continued to grow, with over 7,000 staff employed by the Admiral Group globally
February
Admiral Group was named the 5th Best Company to Work For in the UK’s Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For list. We also received a special recognition award for being the only company in the list for 15 years since the competition began and CEO Henry Engelhardt won the Best Leader award for the second year running
Year - 2014
28 February
Admiral Group named the 2nd in the Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For
Year - 2013
May
Admiral Law and BDE Law Launch.
4th March
Comparenow.com launches in the
USA
2nd January
Admiral Group celebrates its 20th birthday
Year - 2012
December
Admiral launches its own household insurance product
June
Admiral Group has been named the 4th best Multinational place to work in Europe by the Great Place to Work Institute in their Best Workplaces list
April
- Admiral Solutions opened in New Delhi, India.
- Chiarezza the Group's Italian aggregator is sold to BlackFin.
July
The Group’s second Spanish direct
insurance brand, Qualitas Auto is
launched
May
- Admiral Group named the best large place to work in the UK by the Great Place to Work Institute
- Work begins on Admiral’s new headquarters in Cardiff city centre
Year - 2011
February
We featured in the top 10 of the Best Companies awards for the first time
January
AdmiralDirekt.de the Group's second European company is sold to Itzehoer
Year - 2010
December
L'Olivier launched from offices in Paris, L'Olivier is a direct insurance operation and is the Group's second French brand
February
Chiarezza.it became the Group's fourth price comparison site and is based in Milan, Italy
November
We appeared as sponsors of the Welsh rugby kit for the first time (Wales vs Australia)
January
Le Lynx is the Group's third aggregator site in Europe, based in Paris, France
Year - 2009
October
Elephant Auto is the Group's first car insurance company in the United States of America
March
Rastreator.com launches in Spain
Year - 2008
October
Admiral opens an office in Newport
May
Conte.it launches in Italy
Year - 2007
December
Admiral became the second ever Welsh company to join the FTSE 100
October
AdmiralDirekt.de launches in Germany
Year - 2006
October
Balumba.es launches in Spain
Year - 2005
December
Admiral launches "MultiCar"
October
Confused.com wins National E-Commerce Award for Best Sales and Marketing
April
The Admiral Group makes it onto The Financial Times 50 Best Workplaces in the UK and 100 Best Workplaces in the EU for the third consecutive year
November
Admiral Group plc wins National Business Employer of the Year 2005
May
Wins Welsh Company of the Year for the second time, the only Welsh Company to do this. Bell Direct re-brands as Bell, switching target market from drivers with full no claims bonus to drivers with zero no claims bonus
March
The Admiral Group makes it onto The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For list for the fifth consecutive year. It is one of only 11 companies to get on the list every year since its inception in 2001
Year - 2004
November
The Admiral Group is named Business of the Year at the National Business Awards
July
The Admiral Group is named Wales & West Business of the Year at the National Business Awards
April
The Claims department receives its one-millionth claim
September
The Admiral Group floats on the London Stock Exchange. The Admiral Group plc becomes the highest valued public company in Wales
May
The Admiral Group makes it onto The Financial Times 50 Best Workplaces in the UK and 100 Best Workplaces in the EU for the second consecutive year
March
The Admiral Group makes it onto The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For list for the fourth consecutive year. It is one of only 17 companies to get on the list every year since its inception in 2001
Year - 2003
December
The Group's turnover tops the £400 million mark
May
The Admiral Group makes it onto The Financial Times 50 Best Workplaces in the UK at position number 7 and is named one of the 100 Best Workplaces in the EU
October
The Admiral Group customer base reaches 750,000 policyholders
March
The Admiral Group makes it onto The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For list at position 46
Year - 2002
December
Munich Re, the world's largest reinsurer, shows its confidence in Admiral by purchasing an 18% share of the Company
March
The Admiral Group makes it onto The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For list at position 42
June
Henry Engelhardt is named Welsh Business Achiever of the Year at the Welsh Business Award
March
Confused.com is launched and becomes the Group's sixth brand. Unlike the other brands, Confused.com does not sell insurance. Instead it is the UK's first insurance aggregator. Visitors to Confused.com's website fill out their details once online and Confused.com finds the cheapest quotes available on the Internet from its large panel of insurers
Year - 2001
August
The Group's turnover tops the £300 million mark
March
The Admiral Group makes it onto The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For list at position 3
July
The Admiral Group customer base reaches 500,000 policyholders
Year - 2000
December
The Admiral Group launches its fifth brand, elephant.co.uk. It is the UK's first insurer to offer a complete on-line solution to car insurance. It is destined to become the third most visited car insurance website in the UK
Year - 1999
December
The Group's turnover tops the £200 million mark.
May
The Admiral Group is named Welsh Company of the Year at the Welsh Business Awards. An achievement everyone is very proud of
November
CEO, Henry Engelhardt leads a management buy-out of The Admiral Group from the Brockbank Group, which by that time is owned by XL Capital Ltd, in Bermuda. Barclays Private Equity backs the MBO
Year - 1998
April
Gladiator Commercial is launched, becoming our fourth brand. Gladiator Commercial is a commercial vehicle insurance intermediary, selling van insurance on behalf of a panel of insurers. It too is based in Swansea
Year - 1997
June
Two new brands are launched; Bell Direct which targets motorists with full no claims bonus and those paying by credit card and Diamond, created especially for women motorists who traditionally have less expensive claims. Diamond becomes the first brand based wholly in Swansea
Year - 1996
December
The Group's turnover tops the £100 million mark
May
The Admiral customer base reaches 250,000 policyholders
June
Admiral opens its second office in Swansea
Year - 1995
October
Admiral's website goes live, making it the first UK direct insurer with an Internet presence
Year - 1993
2 August
The first ever Admiral TV commercial is broadcast
2 January
First policy sold over the telephone at 9.10 a.m