"Customer care makes Dan the best in the business"

Uckfield man, Dan Wade says that looking after his customers has been the key to his success. Dan, 24, is a partner with Healthcare Practice, a not for profit medical insurer, providing policies to small and medium-sized companies around Crawley and Gatwick. In January 2012 he was named Healthcare Practice Partner of the Year and became the youngest-ever member of the award winning company's regional board of directors.

"My success is largely down to my focus on customers and links with the local community," says Dan, who has been a Healthcare Practice partner since September 2009.

Investing in the Healthcare Practice meant setting up in business for himself with the support of WPA. Now he provides medical cover for over 1,000 local business people, ranging from self-employed sole traders to companies of all sizes including a number of large employers.

"Employees cannot afford to wait for hospital appointments, so I can arrange for them to get treatment or hospital stays to suit the needs of the business. They all have my contact details so that they can call me whenever they have a question – my job is to put their minds at rest” says Dan.

He quotes the case of a local motor mechanic who needed a hip replacement. "He faced a long wait for NHS treatment but Healthcare Practice was able to arrange it at his convenience, so he was in and out of hospital within two weeks. Healthcare Practice helped him take control of his recovery," says Dan.

At another local company, a Director needed hospital treatment, but the company was particularly busy in the run-up to Christmas. "We helped him arrange his treatment in January, when the business could run without him," says Dan.

Meeting the local business community is one of Dan's major enthusiasms. "I visit all my customers two or three times a year to check and improve what Healthcare Practice are doing for them. Exceeding our customers expectations is what marks Healthcare Practice out from the crowd – our DNA is to treat others as we would expect to be treated ourselves.”

Dan continues, “I also help my corporate customers by running seminars to explain what employees are entitled to. This saves the employer time and means staff appreciate their employer more."

A keen networker, Dan frequently starts his day with a business breakfast meeting and spends his evenings at less-formal business gatherings. He also communicates on Twitter and the online business network LinkedIn, where he posts updates about new developments in medical insurance.

He is also a keen campaigner. "As part of the Crawley and Gatwick Diamond Business Association, I am lobbying for improvements to Gatwick Airport station," says Dan, who is also a keen sportsman, playing wing or full back for Lewes Rugby Club, and cricket for Ringmer.

As a corporate member of Sussex Cricket Club he organised a charity lunch last year where the speaker was Jason Leonard, England's most-capped player. The event raised £2,500 for the Wooden Spoon charity, providing funds for local projects such as improvements to Chailey Heritage School. "It is important to put something back into the community so I hope to run a similar event later this year," says Dan.

"With help and support from Healthcare Practice my work has become my passion, bringing the best quality healthcare to my customers, all of whom have become friends."

To find out more information about Healthcare Practice click below

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