A BUSINESSWOMAN from Greater Manchester has been named one of the most influential women in the insurance industry.

Jackie Hyde, director of Bolton-based Stanmore Insurance Brokers Ltd and the founder of specialist nursery insurance provider dot2dot, is one of the top 30 Women of Influence according to expert industry publication Insurance Business UK.

As well as managing a gross written premium (GWP) of over £5.5m and a team of 23, it was Jackie’s determination to establish a ground-breaking specialist nursery insurance scheme which has helped secure her place in the prestigious list.

Jackie launched dot2dot in 2003 and it is now the UK’s leading provider of specialist nursery and childcare insurance, with the GWP for the scheme growing from £100,000 in 2003 to £2m in 2016.

Jackie said of her success: “I am quite taken aback that I have been recognised amongst such very successful and well recognised women in my industry.

“It is vital that all business women encourage their up and coming female colleagues to reach their full potential and hopefully they will increase the percentage of female board directors in the future.

“The insurance industry has and will continue to face many challenges. I believe innovation needs to be kept at the front of the industry’s development alongside raising professional standards.

“dot2dot has been successful because we listen to our customers and work hard to understand the challenges they face in their industry. Our customers are centric to everything we do and their long-term loyalty is very special.”