Partnership will support Innovation Group’s growth plans as an independent business under its existing management team

London/Munich, 10 October 2022 – Innovation Group, a leading global provider of claims and technology solutions to the insurance and automotive industries, today announces that Allianz X has entered into binding agreements with the shareholders of the Innovation Group to acquire the company.

Innovation Group provides comprehensive operational support and expert services to the world’s leading insurers, fleet managers and automotive manufacturers, with over 1,200 clients across Australia, Germany, Poland, South Africa, Spain, the UK, and the USA.

Innovation Group is transforming the insurance market with its pioneering digital claims management platform, Gateway, which is being successfully launched in Germany. This enables largely automated claims management through a sophisticated, independent software platform. Gateway features a simple, intuitive user interface masking a complex ecosystem which connects all relevant participants, including data providers, in the claims process. With Gateway, Innovation Group has developed a comprehensive solution for claims managers that provides the key to digital transformation for insurance claims.

Partnering with Allianz X will provide Innovation Group with the support to accelerate the investment in its technology and global services capabilities, benefiting both clients and employees. Importantly, following the transaction, Innovation Group will maintain its operating independence, management team, brand and culture.

Allianz X is the digital investments arm of the Allianz Group, which specialises in supporting digital growth companies in ecosystems relevant to insurance and asset management. Over the past few years, it has grown to a portfolio of more than 25 companies, with assets under management of over 2 billion euros. It has counted 11 unicorns among its portfolio so far and has a proven track record of helping exciting businesses like Innovation Group accelerate their growth and development.

The transaction is subject to the approval of the relevant competition and regulatory authorities.

“Allianz X’s support will accelerate the roll-out of our industry-leading platform, Gateway, open up new opportunities for growth and enable us to deliver market-leading services for our clients,” said Tim Griffiths, CEO of Innovation Group. “We are delighted to have the backing of Allianz X as we enter the next phase of our development.”

“Innovation Group’s digital solutions bring together all the relevant parties and data to facilitate smooth, efficient and transparent claims management, from first notification of loss to repair and settlement, which is what the market is increasingly demanding,” said Dr. Nazim Cetin, CEO of Allianz X. “It’s a future-ready business with lots of potential and we want to help unleash it.”

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About Innovation Group

Innovation Group delivers transformational expertise to the world’s leading insurers, brokers, fleet managers and automotive manufacturers, helping them to open new growth frontiers with revolutionary solutions. Clients trust us to transform their claim management processes, manage critical vehicle and property incidents and generate more revenue through value-added services. Innovation Group connects more than 1,200 global clients in the insurance and automotive sectors with an ecosystem of thousands of integrated regional network repairers and suppliers. 

About Allianz X

Allianz X invests in digital frontrunners in ecosystems relevant to insurance and asset management. In just a few years, it has grown to a portfolio of more than 25 companies and AuM of over 2 billion euros. Allianz X has counted 11 unicorns among its portfolio so far. The heart and brains behind it all is a talented team of around 40 people. As one of the pillars of the Allianz Group’s digital transformation strategy, Allianz X provides an interface between Allianz Operating Entities and the broader digital ecosystem, enabling collaborative partnerships in insurtech, fintech, and beyond. As an investor, Allianz X supports mature digital growth companies to take the next bold leap and reach their full potential.

Thirty kind-hearted volunteers have joined forces to complete their very own DIY SOS project at a Brownhills home for children with complex needs.

Loss adjusters from leading insurer Aviva swapped their day jobs for paint brushes, trowels and shovels as they pitched in to help drainage, geotechnical and subsidence specialists from Innovation Group plc to transform an outside space at one of Progress Care’s ten homes.

It is the first time the two specialists in the insurance world have come together on a challenge and in just six hours they successfully managed to fix block paving, build planters and raised beds, improve wheelchair access and install a number of sensory boards and new swings.

The biggest task of the day was also completed in style, with over 200 wheelbarrows of soil removed to create a new, safer ground floor home for the trampoline.

More than 180 hours of time went into the garden makeover, which will now allow the eight children who live in the home to enjoy a great outdoor space and lots of fun activities that will stimulate their senses.

Claire Rogers, Managing Director of Progress Care, is keen to see the future impact of the project: “Austerity and funding cuts have caused our sector a lot of issues and we are always looking to partner with kind-hearted businesses that can help us deliver the best possible facilities and living experiences for the children we look after.

“All of them have complex needs and physical disabilities and the garden is such an important place for them to relax, play and, in some cases, learn. The outside space at our Brownhills home needed some ‘TLC’, so we were delighted when a chance conversation with Aviva employees turned into this fantastic DIY SOS.”

She went on to add: “I can’t believe the difference and how quickly it was achieved with the volunteers all working together to bring the garden to life. Our children are already enjoying spending more time outside, as this has become so important after we spent a lot of the last two years isolating due to Covid-19.”

Aviva, a leading general insurer in the UK, is committed to supporting the local communities it operates in and offers all employees up to three ‘volunteering days’ every year.

When the project at Progress Care was raised, a team of seventeen loss adjustors put themselves forward, travelling the length and breadth of the country to take part.

Due to the complex nature of the DIY SOS challenge, the company reached out to Innovation Group, one of its leading supply chain specialists, to help it with drainage, block paving and subsidence work in the garden.

Tanya Bellamy, Commercial Field and Major Loss Leader at Aviva, commented: “The response to the Progress Care project was fantastic, with many of our volunteers travelling hundreds of miles to take part.

“They really threw themselves into it, working closely with the more experienced Innovation Group staff to paint, dig, plant and repair. It’s a bit different to their day job but judging by all the smiles during the day and the reaction we saw from the children, it was six hours well spent.”

Tony Kilgannon, Regional Manager Northern Division at Innovation Group, added his support: “As soon as I visited the home and met some of the children we’d be helping, I had an emotional attachment to making the outside space as good as it could be, the same attachment that I know the rest of our staff had during the day.

“Working with our good friends at Aviva, we have created a sensory garden in just six hours, making it an accessible, safe and fun space with lots of things to do, whether that is trampolining, playing on the swings, enjoying the 3D spinner or touching the different textures of the flowers we’ve put in.

“The children have very challenging lives, so this project was all about giving them something to smile about and a place where they can experience new things.”

Progress has evolved from offering a small residential and fostering service in 2000 into one of the leading independent providers of specialist social care services in the Midlands.

The company, which employs over 220 people, is committed to preventing family breakdowns by increasing resilience and reducing dependency, by blending a range of community-based services designed to support semi-independent and independent living.

This includes creating ten ‘home from home’ residential properties in Brownhills, Coventry, Derby, Rowley Regis, Walsall, Wednesbury and Wolverhampton. 

Claire concluded: “A big thank you to Aviva and Innovation Group for what they have given the children.

“Employees from the two businesses have already agreed to help us with more challenges on our properties and we’d also appeal to other companies – looking for ‘feel good’ transformational projects for their staff – to come and talk to us.”

For further information, please visit www.progresscare.co.uk

By: Iris de Jager, General Manager: Claims, Innovation Group South Africa

With over 460 000 new vehicle sales concluded in 2021, no one can contest the fact that South African’s love cars! It’s only logical, seeing that we have access to the top vehicle manufacturers on local soil, a large variety of models to choose from and access to some of the most scenic routes to enjoy them on.

Whether we use them for basic transportation needs, conducting the daily school run or even just exploring our beautiful country, there’s just no getting away from the fact that we are a nation of car lovers!

But, as much as we love our cars for the beautiful machines that they are, how many of us return that love through regular and thorough maintenance checks? So often we spend most of our time focusing on the exterior of the vehicle – regular power washes, the quick windscreen clean or checking the tyre pressure now and then – that we often forget to focus on the basics of what keeps our cars running.

Conducting regular maintenance checks on the basic or key components of your car will not only keep it in good running condition, but it can also save you from costly repairs down the line. It gives you an opportunity to check whether there are any signs of minor problems, like cracks, leaks, as well as excessive wear and tear due to friction.

Some of the most important maintenance items on your vehicle includes:

• Oil: Oil changes are considered the most critical routine maintenance item for any vehicle, as the oil lubricates the majority of moving parts in your engine and helps to cut down wearing of the components. Changing the oil on a regular basis is key to maintaining the efficiency and longevity of your engine.
• Fluids: Your car relies on different types of fluids to run properly. So, be sure to regularly check coolant levels, power steering fluid, brake fluid and transmission fluid. A leak with any of these fluids can affect the way that your car drives.
• Engine air filters: Dirty air filters can cause dust, dirt and other particles to enter your car’s engine which may reduce its efficiency
• Brake pads: If you experience shuddering or vibrations when hitting the brakes, it’s worthwhile having it checked out!
• Belts and hoses: Keeping your car’s belts and hoses in good shape can help your car running and may help avoid a breakdown on the road.

Whilst service plans are designed to cover the annual servicing of your car, focusing on specific serviceable components at specified intervals, maintenance plans are more comprehensive and focuses on covering the labour and expenses of specified parts, whilst also focusing on specified non-serviceable components that are subject to regular wear and tear like batteries, wiper blades and brake pads. A maintenance plan might be more costly than a service plan, but if you enjoy the open road and like to travel regularly, you may experience more frequent wear and tear.

Beyond keeping you safe, regular car maintenance improves your car’s reliability and performance, minimizes the chances of roadside emergencies and prevents surprise repairs that can be very expensive! Let’s keep loving our cars through regular maintenance!

Every Little Bit Extra Helps (ELBEH) is a campaign to support foodbanks lead by Carpenters Group, S&G Response, Innovation Group, Morelli Group and Onyx PDA supporting The Trussell Trust.

After launching the ELBEH initiative in November 2021, there are an incredible number of businesses who have committed to supporting this initiative from all sectors of the motor and insurance industry.

Friday 17 December 2021 is ‘Donation Day’ for industry foodbank contributions.

In the UK, more than 14 million people are living in poverty including 4.5 million children. This ELBEH campaign wants to help and support foodbanks so they are as fully stocked as possible for Christmas.

Donations have and can been be made online via the Just Giving page EveryLittleBitExtraHelps

Anyone and everyone can also donate food and goods to their local Trussell Trust foodbanks should they want to.

In addition to the donation day, the ELBEH initiative is also holding a ‘Wear anything Christmassey to work (or home) day’ on the 10 December 2021. We are asking as many people as possible to wear Christmas hats, headbands and/or jumpers for the day and make a donation of £1 to take part.

We have had lots of wonderful businesses commit to take part. Support so far has been pledged by the following businesses:

Andrew Lucia, Chief Operating Officer, Prosure Solutions “ We are proud to support such a great cause which will hopefully get some people back on their feet when it is most needed. Please keep up the fantastic work”

Richard Steer, “The Steer Group are delighted to support the Every Little Bit Extra Helps campaign.  It is great to see so many organisations from across the insurance sector coming together to provide much needed support at this time of year”

Mark Leeming, LKQ,  “It was heart-warming to read of the #ELBEH initiative launched last week and LKQ wanted to get involved to support our industry colleagues.  We look forward to working with our colleagues to do some good this Christmas”

“We’re very honoured to be able to support such a worthy cause; one which we know will make a real difference to people’s lives over the festive period.” Tom Noble, UK Market Manager, Sherwin Williams.

Richard Ketley, Head of Network, Innovation Group,  “When I learned about the #ELBEH campaign I was immediately onboard.  It just really resonated with me, and I have been delighted to play a part.”

• Carpenters Group, S&G Response, Innovation Group, Morelli Group and Onyx PDA support The Trussell Trust.
• Every little ‘bit extra’ helps – the campaign to support foodbanks.
• Friday 17^th December to be ‘donation day’ for industry foodbank contributions.

A group of five companies working in various divisions within the insurance industry are joining forces this Christmas to raise awareness and provide support for local foodbanks across the UK.

The group consists of industry leaders from across the sector, Donna Scully from leading providers of insurance and legal services Carpenters Group, Kate Goodwin from the global insuretech business Innovation Group, Ruth Moring-Beale from independent distributor company Morelli Group, Dan Chesney from the industry leading marketing agency Onyx PDA and Andy Whatmough from automotive solutions providers S&G Response.

Donna Scully said “In the run up to Christmas we know demand for food will escalate and people face the impossible decision of whether to heat or eat.  A decision nobody should have to make. We hope, as a group, we can make a difference and if you want to get involved, please contact us. The more who help, the more we can help”.

In the UK, more than 14 million people are living in poverty, this includes 4.5 million children. The group want to ensure that foodbanks are stocked full this Christmas ready to support local communities and families in need.

Kate Goodwin said “This is an initiative forged through friendships made via our wonderful industry, but one that recognises that we speak from a fortunate position in comparison to so many other people within our local communities.

We would LOVE for others in the industry to join us to help support the thousands of people that will need the help of a foodbank over the next weeks and months. A couple of bags of food, to a full blown collection of goods – every single donation will help someone, somewhere. In turn, we can support efforts by collecting and delivering goods, a service kindly offered by the Morelli Group”.

Supporting The Trussell Trust, the name of their campaign is Every Little ‘Bit Extra’ Helps, and they are asking for businesses and individuals from across the insurance sector to come together in the build-up for their ‘donations day’ on Friday 17^th December and deliver their contributions to their local foodbanks.

Dan Chesney, Managing Director of OnyxPDA said “We’re so thrilled to be involved with this wonderful campaign. When life is so busy, particularly at Christmas it’s really easy to get lost in it all and forget what matters most, helping those in our communities. That’s why we want to not only raise awareness of the amazing work The Trussell Trust do, but also support the foodbanks that provide for so many within our communities not only during the winter, but all year-round.”

Those getting involved can share photos of donations to one of the group members or on social media with the hashtag #ELBEH.

Whiteley, United Kingdom – September 20, 2022 -The Automotive 30% Club, founded in 2016, is a voluntary network of Managing Directors and Chief Executive Officers from UK based automotive manufacturers, retailers, and suppliers. The network was founded by Julia Muir, CEO of Gaia Innovation Ltd, with the purpose of achieving a better gender balance within the automotive industry, and with the aim of filling at least 30% of key leadership positions in the member organisations with diverse women by 2030 through a “30 by 30” strategy. The membership is growing at a considerable pace which is great, with more and more automotive leaders joining.

John Watson, Managing Director of UK Insurance Claims at Innovation Group says,

“I am delighted to have become a member of the Automotive 30% club. Gender balance is a subject that’s close to my heart and working with Julia and the team on the “30 by 30” strategy to create opportunities for women across our business fits perfectly with our aspirations for a truly diverse and inclusive workspace. 50% of our current Senior Leadership Team are female, supporting a gender diverse workforce from the top and a dual approach to driving change. Our strategy leader will be Kate Goodwin, Network and Engineering Director here at Innovation Group, who has a 25-year career within our industry and is ideally placed to help us achieve our ambitions in this critical area.”

Julia Muir, CEO of Gaia Innovation says,

“I’m very pleased to welcome John Watson, MD of Innovation Group to the Automotive 30% Club. Innovation Group is a global leading insurtech business, providing solutions for the automotive sector such as warranty and service plans, and fleet accident claim management services. I shall look forward to assisting John and his progressive team with their 30 by 30 strategy and including them in our Club activities.”