Over its 25 years in business, ICAB (Insurance Claims Accommodation Bureau) has grown from a start up one man band to a household name within the alternative accommodation, decant and major loss field, on a national scale.
In November 2023 the company celebrates its 25th anniversary and reiterates its commitment to the belief that the sourcing of alternative accommodation for those undergoing a peril in their home, is a better experience because of the work it does.
The origins of ICAB began in 1998 as a hotel booking service in its original incarnation as Insurance Claims Hotel Bureau but as the business began to diversify its service offering its name changed to ICAB to accurately reflect the breadth of services it provides. An operation that began with just one service now offers hotel accommodation, holiday lets, serviced apartments, rentals, caravans, storage, removals, packaging, furniture and ICAB PODs.
Winning industry awards since 2007 and establishing itself within the market the business has managed to stay true to its roots. ICAB is a family business with Gary Goodman, Founder and now Chairman employing a range of his family over the years! His sister worked for many years in accounts, his brother in law as a financial consultant and most importantly his three children came on board. Joel Goodman, Managing Director joined in 1999, his next son Tim, Managing Director joined in 2000 and daughter Kellie Leigh, HR Director joined in 2006. Gary ensured they all brought their vocational background to the business including operational, sales and HR experience from previous roles. Over the years ICAB has also employed twin sisters, brothers, aunty and niece and of course couples that have got together whilst at work! Since Gary’s retirement in 2017 Joel, Tim and Kellie have lead a strategic redevelopment of the business which has seen it go from strength to strength and expand its offering. What was once a one person business is now a thriving team of over 85 staff. With its head office in Bushey, Hertfordshire being the base for most of its clerical staff and warehouses in Milton Keynes housing our PODs, it continues to go from strength to strength.
The company’s success is widely down to its staffing body evidenced in a large proportion of staff having been at ICAB for way over 10 years and constantly evolving with the business. ICAB is stooped in ethical principle; being a diverse and inclusive place to work enabling staff to carry out their religious practises if they wish and talk freely about their lives.
ICAB is also committed to supporting charities both relevant to its field and those important to its staff members. In the past ICAB has supported Impact on the Street; packing parcels for homeless people in London, donating Easter Eggs to Spread a Smile for critically ill children stuck in hospital over the holiday as well as Evie’s Night Owls which is named in memory of one its staff members children and provides overnight respite for parents living with children who have life limiting conditions. In honour of its 25th anniversary ICAB asked staff which charity they would like to support and an overwhelming response said mental health charities so ICAB has chosen MIND to mark this important anniversary.
The last 25 years are testament to our mission to serve customers undergoing traumatic experiences due to a peril in the home. We are proud of our history and our continued success and we are excited to see where the business can go in the future. With the combination of advanced technologies, dedicated staff and of course my three children (who now have children of their own!) at the helm, we will aim to provide affordable alternative accommodation solutions for all our users.
Three days before Christmas, ICAB’s Claims Team was contacted by an insurance company with a claim for an elderly policyholder who lived in a village in central Scotland.
A call came in to ICAB’s claims team from a home insurance provider. Their policy holders had experienced subsidence in their Kirkaldy home and it was uninhabitable.
As part of its commitment to staff learning and development, ICAB launched its ‘Learning and Development Department’ in January 2024, headed up by Lucy Wyborn.
ICAB was contacted when major remedial cladding works were planned for a block of flats. The residents needed to be decanted to temporary accommodation whilst the works were undertaken.
Specialists in arranging both planned and emergency alternative accommodation, assisting those who suffer unwelcome events in their home, such as flood or fire. Acting on behalf of Insurers, Social Housing organisations and a large range of Instructing Principals.
