Rok seals £40m AXA home emergency contract

BUILDING services firm Rok cheered investors with a £40m deal for home emergency services with insurance giant Axa.

The firm said the three-year contract with Axa subsidiary Inter Partner Assistance would lead to a "significant" increase in the number of home emergency claims it handles.

"This contract win is a significant success for Rok's maintenance and improvements division and for the group as a whole," said Rok chief executive Garvis Snook.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"It reinforces Rok's position as number one in the buildings insurance repairs and emergency market.

"Rok and AXA Assistance have formed a long-term strategic partnership to provide a best in class home emergency service."

Rok's call centre in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, will handle the contract, which will create 50 new jobs.

Bob Ewers, chief executive of AXA Assistance UK, said: "We are very excited about our new partnership as it gives us the ability to manage the customer journey from the first notification of loss, supported by Rok's nationwide office network.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"The combined strengths of AXA Assistance and Rok, the directly employed technicians, common IT platform and culture of our two organisations make this a market leading proposition."

The win comes after Rok reported half-year losses of 3.8m earlier this month due to job losses and restructuring at its troubled plumbing, heating and electrical (PHE) division.

Rok, which has also suspended its chief financial officer, called shortcomings in financial and operational controls at the division a "regrettable chapter" in the company's history.

Its shares have fallen more than 60 per cent over the past year.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The group, which has offices in Leeds and Wakefield, said its PHE business was hit by "serious failings". Its PHE problems stem from its acquisition of Avonside in October 2007 for 16.5m, which included an office in Hull, and worked primarily with housebuilders.

Related topics: