Easi-Drive Appoints 9Y Creative Agency For Re-Brand

Leading accident management company, Easi-Drive, has appointed 9 Yards Creative Communications, to refresh its brand identity.

The re-brand by the Knutsford-based agency will include a new look logo to be used across all corporate communications and refreshed design creative.

The timely appointment coincides with Easi-Drive unveiling significant growth plans; targeting an increase in turnover to £30million by 2013 and aspirations to increase the number of full time employees in line with growth.

Commenting on the appointment, Nikki Chamberlain, Marketing Manager at Easi-Drive said: “9Y impressed us with a straight-talking, honest approach. They are working with us to ensure our positioning is appropriate and effective for our target customers and to guarantee our corporate identity reflects our positioning and above all our ambition.”

The new branding is due to be unveiled during September and will be prominent across all marketing materials including off and online ads, external newsletters, the website and vehicle accessories.

Tim Slough, Client Services Director at 9Y added: “We are delighted to be working with the team at Easi-Drive. The business is going from strength to strength at the moment and we join them at an exciting time. They are a trusted and respected player in their field and we are working with them to build on the excellent foundations they have already laid.

He continued: “As the business continues to grow, it will be targeting new sectors including car dealerships and it’s imperative that the positioning is correct. The messaging is about trust, honesty, ethics and credibility – all of which have been identified as key drivers within this market - and emphasising the excellence in customer service for which Easi-Drive is recognised.”

Easi-Drive is due to open a new 15,000sq ft head office in Wythenshawe during September to accommodate its increasing workforce.

Easi-Drive Supports Wheely Good Local Cause

Wythenshawe-based accident management company, Easi-Drive has committed to donating funds up to £15,000 over the course of the next three years to local community group, Wythenshawe Wheelers.

The company, based on Sharston Industrial Estate, has chosen the club as a beneficiary of its community giving programme, WheelsforGood.

It has pledged to purchase key equipment and improve the general facilities at the South Manchester club, which focuses on offering cycling to people with a disability.

WheelsforGood was the brainchild of managing director, Simon Bellamy and looks to reward charities and good causes in the areas in which the business operates.

To mark the launch of the partnership, 13 workers from Easi-Drive swapped their day jobs for a 50-mile bike ride from Manchester to Chester recently, pedalling up an impressive £1,200 in sponsorship money!

The funds raised will be used to purchase a children’s quad bike. In addition Easi-Drive has just purchased a KMX Tornado bike for the club. Similar to a BMX model, the KMX is designed for thrill seekers.

Wythenshawe Wheelers owns over 70 specially adapted bikes and runs four sessions a week from its facility in South Manchester. Members travel from as far a-field as Chester, Crewe and Bury to the club at Wythenshawe Park.

On the partnership, Sue Blaylock, founder of Wythenshawe Wheelers said: “We are so grateful to Easi-Drive for its commitment – we are in desperate need of new equipment including safety gear such as helmets and are keen to improve our basic facilities such as bathrooms. Its support will transform the whole experience for our members. I would like to extend personal thanks to the group of 13 who took part in the gruelling bike ride recently.”

Simon Bellamy from Easi-Drive added: “This is such a fantastic cause for us to be associated with and we are delighted to have joined forces with Sue and her team of volunteers. The service it provides is truly inspiring and really makes a difference to people’s lives – we have seen it first hand.

He continued: “The employees are really getting behind this cause and there are a number of fundraising activities planned over the next 6 months including a walk up Kinder Scout in the Peak District.”

Easi-Drive encourages applications for funding from charities and community groups across the region. If you are interested in applying, please visit the website at http://www.wheelsforgood.com/ for more information or to submit an application.

Easi-Drive announced as finalist in top business awards

Manchester-based accident management company, Easi-Drive has been short-listed as a finalist in the National Business Awards in partnership with Orange.

The 120 strong team, based in Manchester, was celebrating this week after being notified they were in the running for The Santander Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year.

The high profile awards attract an excellent calibre of entrants and see Easi-Drive rubbing shoulders with blue chip brands such as Camelot, Marks and Spencer, Coca Cola and the Co-Op Group.

As a finalist, the company, established in 2001 by Simon Bellamy and today run alongside brother Daniel and co-director Gareth Berry, has been recognised as an outstanding organisation with demonstrable success, innovation and ethics.

On being shortlisted a delighted Simon Bellamy said: “We are thrilled with this news and now have everything crossed for the next stage.

He continued: “It is testament to the hard work of the excellent team of people here. Customer service runs through our veins at Easi-Drive and we work tirelessly to ensure that we deliver the best service we can to all our customers.”

Commenting on Easi-Drive’s selection as a finalist, Chair of Judges Philip Forrest said: “Providing an empathetic service which recognises the needs of those who are in the post-accident situation has enabled the company to develop a range of services and deliver them in a way which minimises stress to all stakeholders. It has built a successful business that is enjoying substantial growth and profitability.”

“Orange has sponsored the National Business Awards for the past nine years and I am delighted that the calibre of entrants keeps on improving,” said Martin Stiven, Vice President, Orange UK. “It's been a tough couple of years for business but the UK's organisations have not let this stop them from delivering success. I'd like to congratulate all the finalists for being a real inspiration for what is possible in business.”

The Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year award looks for companies that best demonstrate an established position, significant growth and innovation in their market sector, under-pinned by strong business results.

Easi-Drive has been invited by the National Business Awards to present to a panel of judges on Friday 1st October at Coutts & Co headquarters (The ‘Gherkin’ building) in London.

2010 winners will be unveiled at a glittering award ceremony on 9th November at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

The business that deals with all aspects of non fault accidents already appears on The Virgin Sunday Times Fast Track 100 list. Easi-Drive has experienced huge organic growth over the last 12 months and has increased its workforce by over 40% to cope with the increasing demand.