28/10/2009 - Following Fortis' recent success at securing two new partnerships in the UK, the company has announced that it will be recruiting almost 550 people in its UK regional offices over the next year. Fortis recently finalised a new partnership with Tesco Bank, through which the company will handle motor and household insurance for Tesco Bank's 1.5 million customers in a deal worth over £500 million in annualised gross written premium. In addition, Fortis has entered into exclusive discussions with Toyota (GB) PLC and its insurance partner in the UK, Aioi Motor and General Insurance Company of Europe Limited, to work together to provide branded motor insurance products to Toyota GB's 1.3 million UK customer base. Aioi Motor & General will continue to underwrite the branded motor insurance products marketed by Toyota GB with Fortis handling the sales, administration and claims services. In the United Kingdom, Fortis already employs in the region of 3,000 people and is a leading insurer with an existing customer base of around 7 million people. These new relationships will make Fortis the second largest car insurer in the UK. Announcing the new jobs across the UK, Barry Smith, Chief Executive of Fortis UK comments: "These two significant relationships are a very positive development for the business. We are delighted to be creating hundreds of jobs in the UK during this period of economic uncertainty, and this growth underlines our aim to be the insurance partner of choice based on our innovative products and excellent customer service."