This article is sponsored by A-Plan Harrogate

A-Plan Harrogate has celebrated its one-year anniversary, having opened the new branch while the nation was deep in the pandemic, lockdown, and furlough.

Despite the initial opening being delayed due to construction work grinding to a halt during the first lockdown, the high street insurer was determined to see the business open and thrive.

Branch Manager Chris Bishop recalls the journey from the temporary opening in 2020, to a more permanent reopening this year, to celebrating their one-year Birthday with some Fat Rascals from Bettys Harrogate. And of course, the community support that keeps his team committed, and Harrogate town centre thriving.

Opening and closing, and opening again

“Opening a new high street store during a pandemic probably didn’t make sense to some. Particularly as so many large household retail brands closed their high street stores for good. However, despite the challenges of opening, closing, working from home, and reopening again, we knew that this would be a service that many local people would want to see return to the high street. After all, A-Plan has been supporting high streets and local communities since it opened its first branch in Oxford almost 60 years ago. So you could say we’re very well-rehearsed at it!”

Chris continues :

“And now, more than ever, I really do feel that there is a need for that personal connection and the reassurance of speaking to a real person to help them find the right insurance, rather than filling out an online question set. One thing that became clear at the start of the pandemic was that clients were fed up of waiting hours to have their call answered, yet on average we’re still answering calls in under 20 seconds.

“It was a great feeling finally getting the keys to the store last year – and we managed to time our opening in-between lockdowns, so we were able to celebrate with an appearance by Deputy Mayor Councillor Zoe Metcalf, and a representative from Saint Michael’s Hospice who we continue to support. We even had a visit from ‘the Trotter’s van’ which drew a lot of attention outside our store!

“We were open for just six weeks before closing again due to the second lockdown, but we kept building the business by working from home. Unfortunately, face-to-face meetings came to a swift halt, but we were available on the phone for anyone that needed us. We do go into things a little deeper to ensure our clients get the cover they need, so we still built up a good rapport via telephone. And it was great to see so many of the people we spoke to ‘pop in’ when we reopened! It was a great feeling returning to the new store once lockdown lifted. It does feel as if the entire community has really pulled together to support each other, and that has been reflected in the footfall in the centre too.”

An active part of our community

“It has been important for us to work with independent businesses and charities in the area and we started that from our very first day. In addition to supporting Saint Michaels Hospice, we continue to support the Harrogate Theatre, and work closely with the Harrogate Outdoor Bowls Club.

“Our team also enjoyed wearing pink, baking cakes, and fundraising for Breast Cancer Awareness, and we ran a Free Coffee Friday offering A-Plan thermos mugs filled with coffee from our neighbouring, independent coffee shop which was very well received.

“There is a real drive to engage in activities, and that was very prevalent at the recent A-Plan sponsored Harrogate bonfire, which saw over 12,000 people attend and record fundraising for the Friends of Harrogate Hospital. We also ran a competition to win free insurance!

“Harrogate is a great place to work, so we also continue to support our local business community, having recently hosted a B2B networking event in our meeting room with a view to host more events in the future.”

A helpful addition to the high street

“It is clear from the reception we have enjoyed that A-Plan is a helpful addition to the high street, with local people not having had a more personal ‘branch’ service in the area for over four years. It has been encouraging to see footfall increase over the last few months, and to see Harrogate thriving after being mentioned for it’s incredible ‘bounce back’ in the news recently. This is an amazing testament to the local community and people in the area, everyone has pulled together, and you get a real sense of that.”

To find out more about A-Plan and the services available, contact the Harrogate team directly on 01423 647220.

Harrogate Borough Council is working with volunteers to plant more than 5,500 wild flower plugs on the Stray.

The flowers will be planted between the Empress and Prince of Wales roundabouts on the Stray.

Volunteers from the Bilton Conservation Group and the Rotary Club of Harrogate are helping to plant the bulbs over this weekend and next.

The council hopes that by September the flowers will be in full bloom.

This article is sponsored by A-Plan Harrogate.

Many of us are keeping our fingers (and toes) crossed for a summer holiday later this year, and research suggests more people than ever will ditch the plane in favour of driving to a European destination.

But are you up-to-date on new driving regulations since the UK left the EU?

Whilst some things have stayed the same, there are new requirements which will change how we prepare and drive in Europe, including the documents you’ll need to carry with you to ensure you have the right cover and protection.

Before traveling, make sure you speak to your insurer. It might be that there’s no impact on you and it may not even incur an additional cost, but you will have peace of mind that you’ve ticked all the necessary boxes.

1. Insurance Green Cards

Perhaps the most significant change is that motorists wanting to drive abroad will now need to have a Green Card certificate of insurance produced by their insurance provider. If you arrive at the border without a physical Green Card, you will not be allowed to drive in that country. Despite the name, ‘green cards’ no longer need to be printed on green paper – white paper is also acceptable as long at the text is black, but digital copies are not acceptable. Although most insurers have prepared well for these requests, as you need a hard copy it’s advised that you order these at least 4 weeks before your departure, disclosing all the territories that you will be travelling through.

2. Towing a caravan or trailer

If you are towing a caravan or trailer during your trip in the EU, you will need two Green Cards: one for your vehicle and one for the caravan or trailer. If you don’t have a Green Card you may be breaking the law by driving your vehicle in Europe, and you might face a fine or your vehicle could be seized.

3. International Driving Permits (IDP)

Despite some trepidation before the deal was struck with the EU, if you have a UK photocard driving licence, you do not need an IDP to drive in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein. However, if you still have a paper driving licence this may not be acceptable in some EU countries and so you will have to obtain a new photocard licence or an IDP before you travel. Find out more about this here. 

4. GB sticker

As was the case when the UK was an EU member state, if your number plate has only a Euro symbol or a national flag of England, Scotland or Wales, you must display a GB sticker on the rear of your vehicle. These can be purchased from many internet sites or at the port of departure. If your number plates show GB, you do not need to add the sticker.

5. Insurance of personal items in your car

Many people do not realise that cover for personal items under car insurance is quite limited (usually only a few £100 at best). With most families travelling with a couple of tablets for the kids, mobile phones and a camera, the cost of replacing lost or stolen items without insurance could be high. A-Plan Insurance recommend that you check you have the right cover in place on your home contents insurance, as this can usually be added at reasonable cost if not already included. Be sure to check cover for high value items such as jewellery and watches as these could be subject to further endorsements such as a custody clause, meaning the items must be worn at all times.

Chris Bishop (A-Plan Harrogate Branch Manager) said:

“Although at the moment travelling throughout Europe may seem a long way off, it’s absolutely imperative that people are aware of all the changes that may impact their insurance cover. Our local team are here to help so if anyone has any queries then please do get in touch.”

Got a question about insurance for travelling or driving abroad? Contact the A-Plan Harrogate branch for no-obligation advice.