Meet the team

John Collinge

John Collinge

Chairman of SMQ Services Ltd T/A The Health Insurance Group

John Collinge

The business was formed by myself and my son David Collinge in 1993 to arrange and manage Private Medical Insurance Schemes providing a personal service to clients in the SME market.

The business has grown during the last 28 years and we now cover the country, managing in excess of 1,600 clients.

We believe that personal service still has a place in this electronic world and whilst we operate a complex IT system integrated into the insurance providers, we do not operate an automated telephone system as do the vast majority of our competitors so all our clients can speak to a real person when they need information from us.

Away from the business I enjoy motor sport and cricket and spending time in my garden, where my wife and I cultivate a wide variety of flowering plants.

About me
David Collinge

David Collinge

MD of SMQ Services Ltd. T/A The Health Insurance Group

David Collinge

My father and I, John Collinge, formed the business back in 1993.  Rather than strive for a company with big overheads and a large workforce like John’s previous business, our formula was to do the opposite.  We steadily built the company over a number of years, utilising new technologies as they became available.  We employed people working from home from the start, and we took the business paperless around 2005.  Our company is fortunate to have a strong team with decades of experience and all members focussed primarily on customer satisfaction.  This is why we still have loyal clients from 1993!

Outside of work, exercise and a healthy lifestyle is a big part of my life.  From strength and conditioning to mountain biking, I find these activities good for the body and the mind.  I’m fortunate to be married to a plant-based chef and naturopath, so our food is always organic and extremely tasty.  I also enjoy motorsports and try and get out on my motorbike when I have a spare couple of hours.

About me
Dave Harrison

David Harrison

Director of SMQ Services T/A The Health Insurance Group

David Harrison

Hi, I’m Dave Harrison and I have been in the industry for 26 years looking after clients.  I try, in our ever complex world governed by compliance, to give the advice/options and simple facts I would want if I was buying or renewing a policy.

My life has changed recently as I became a widower & I have moved house to a lovely area in the Cotswolds.  I have a great daughter who is now living close by and enjoy Badminton, Motor biking, push biking and just enjoying life with friends and family who are currently using the new house as a free Air BNB 😊

About me
Kelvin Pritchard

Kelvin Pritchard

Business Development Manager (NE)

Kelvin Pritchard

I have been in the insurance industry, for 43 years, in various management positions, encompassing sales/marketing and administration. More recently, since 1992, I have ran my own employee benefits brokerage, based in North East England.

My hobbies/ pastimes include sailing, golf and watching most sports.

About me
Adam Brown

Adam Brown

Employee Benefits Specialist

Adam Brown

I have worked in the for The Health Insurance Group now for just over 15 years and I enjoy speaking to so many different industries and variety of people in my role.  I am married to Emma who is also involved in our business and we have two smashing children Sophie and Spencer who keep us very busy.

I really enjoy going to the gym, long walks, weekends away and going to see live music.  And for my sins I am Sunderland AFC session ticket holder.

About me
Emma Brown

Emma Brown

Employee Benefits Specialist

Emma Brown

I joined the team in 2017 having been with my previous employer for over 16 years, to say I was a little nervous is an understatement however I can honestly say I have never looked back and I love it!  I work in the North East office alongside my husband who also works for THIG and I am happy to report that being married, living together and working together seems to be a success.

I have two children who keep me occupied in my spare time however when I am not taking them to their various clubs/activities I enjoy going to my local gym or I quite often like to go for walks on an evening.  I am aware this makes me sound like I am quite active however I can also confirm that I love sitting on the couch in my pyjamas watching TV!  One of my favourite things to do is travel around the UK, as a family we have been lucky to be able to visit some of the most beautiful places and make some incredible memories.  Give me a cup of tea, some nice scenery and my family and I am in my happy place!

About me
Ellie Wootton

Ellie Wootton

Employee Benefits Specialist & Client Services Manager

Ellie Wootton

I was brand new to the employee benefits industry when I started in 2016 as an account administrator, now I have over 5 years of knowledge and experience across all areas of the business.

In May 2020 I achieved my certification in insurance (Cert CII) passing my IF1, IF7 and GR1 modules, which has led me to where I am today as an individual and employee benefits specialist.

I am always eager to build my wealth of knowledge within the sector and reach my full potential. When I am not working, I enjoy socialising, shopping, traveling and being with my 3 sausage dogs!

About me
Joy Russell

Joy Russell

Employee Benefits Specialist

Joy Russell

I have been in the PMI/Employee Benefit  industry since 1987.

I enjoy working with people and being able to give my clients the reassurance that they are being looked after.

I love foreign holidays, skin care, pink gin and reading anything from autobiographies to girlie romances.

About me
David Joseph

David Joseph

Employee Benefits & Business Protection Specialist

David Joseph

Hi I’m David Joseph, I’ve been married to Lynne for over 30 years with two grown up children Daniel and Hannah.  I love to socialise, watching sport and walking along our great coast in South Shields or through the streets of Sorrento.

I’ve been a Specialist in Employee Benefits and Business Protection for over 20 years and I have clients for that length of time.  It still gives me a buzz to arrange the best deals possible for all my clients large or small, and long may it continue.

About me
Julie Fairbairn

Julie Fairbairn

Employee Benefits Specialist

Julie Fairbairn

I’m Julie Fairbairn.  I am first and foremost; a Wife, a Mother and a Grandma and work 5 days over 4 to help look after my grandchildren.  I love working from home as this gives me chance to get to the gym early in the morning and still be at my desk by 8.30am.  I find this to be a good work-life balance.

I love to travel and can’t wait to re-book all of my missed holidays from 2020. 

Other hobbies also include eating out, watching a good film at the cinema and going to concerts.  I have an easy ear and enjoy most types of music.

I have a wealth of experience in the Health and Protection industry having worked in the industry since 1998.  I have covered all roles in the business since starting as Telesales Operative, promoted to Office Manager then subsequently became a Specialist in Employee Benefits and Business Protection for which I have qualifications in all aspects of our business.

About me
Aaron Unsworth

Aaron Unsworth

Business Development Manager (North)

Aaron Unsworth

Health and wellbeing consultant with over 25 years experience working within the health insurance industry.  I've been working for THIG for the 5 years as the business development manager for the North of England.

My main hobby is playing golf, I’m also a member of the Fore Business Golf Network.  It's been a very good year on the golf front this year as I have managed to get my handicap down to single figures.

I'm a family man who recently married with 3 children, I enjoy playing most sports and also manages my sons Under 14’s football team.

About me
Andrew Shiner

Andrew Shiner

Employee Benefits & Business Protection Specialist

Andrew Shiner

An insurance professional with 40 years’ experience, Andrew has worked for a number of market leading insurers and intermediaries which has provided him with a fully rounded view and perspective of the UK health and protection insurance sector.  From 2005 he has specialised in advising SME’s and corporate clients in relation to health and wellness related employee benefits such as private medical insurance, employee assistance programmes, occupational health with particular focus on group life ( death in service) insurance, group income protection and group critical illness. He believes that the need for business protection ( key man , shareholder, and loan protection) is not widely understood by a large proportion of his clients and that this is an area which the market should give more focus to in the future.

As a qualified Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute and a Chartered Insurance Broker, Andrew prides himself on being able to provide an excellent client experience and always seeks to gain a full understanding of demands and needs before offering fully independent and impartial advice. He is a married man with two grown up daughters and a two-year-old grandson who he dotes on. He follows most sports but particularly football and cricket, plays golf quite badly and enjoys walking, travel (pandemics permitting) and reading.

About me
Gary Austin

Gary Austin

Administrator & Sales Advisor Support

Gary Austin

New to the industry after 20 years of managing hospitality venues and events.  Now starting out as an administrator for THIG and building a solid future with them.  The team have been amazing since joining and really look out for everyone.

I play amateur rugby union for Aldridge Rugby Club in the West Midlands, and I also coach kickboxing to kids and adults.

Can be found hanging out at live music venues in my spare time enjoying a range of music.  I Also enjoy going on a good hike looking for new areas to stroll, I find being outdoors really relaxes the soul.

I have a passion for food and love to cook, mostly what my 5 year old tells me to cook him but I do enjoy a cracking roast dinner.

About me
Jennifer Palmer

Jennifer Palmer

Administrator & Sales Advisor Support

Jennifer Palmer

I started my career as a Pensions Clerk at GKN Garrington’s and then moved to GKN Distributors where I took on the role of Pensions and HR Officer. Following a brief spell in payroll at GKN I moved back into pensions at Lucas industries which led onto a Pensions Consultant role at Noble Lowndes and then Sedgwick’s. Following the birth of my son I took up administration roles at Tamworth college and later Burton college.

I joined the Health in Insurance group in May 2019 for a new challenge and not one day is the same.

Outside of work I enjoy target and clay pigeon shooting and take part in club competitions (but still room for improvement)!

About me
Lyn Bruton

Lyn Bruton

Administrator & Sales Advisor Support

Lyn Bruton

I have worked for THIG as a part-time Admin Assistant for several years, having previously worked in finance as a Mortgage Underwriter.

Outside of work, I’m kept busy by my 2 daughters and walking my Schnauzer, Stanley.  Being outside in the fresh air is important to me and I have just ventured into attempting to grow my own fruit and veg – with varying degrees of success!  To relax, I listen to Rock music  and am also teaching myself German

About me

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