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Our history

Two mutuals with one simple aim - to listen to their customers' needs and help them financially. It's what Engage Mutual and Family Investments have been doing successfully for many years.

Engage Mutual and Family Investments were built on solid financial principles - giving customers products and services they could trust and rely on. These principles are the same today as they were when both companies were formed in the 1970s and 80s. Engage and Family have now merged to become OneFamily.

OneFamily is owned by its customers, which makes it easier for us to listen to them and shape our policies to their needs. That's what makes us different.


Puzzle illustration

1975

Family Investments begins

The beginning of Family Investments. Bob Morrison launched the Family Assurance Friendly Society and the first product was called Family Bond, a tax-exempt 10 year savings plan.

May 13

1979

Family’s first acquisition

Family’s first acquisition - a small friendly society called Drummond Assurance. By 1980 membership figures stood at 30,000.

1980

Homeowners established

After seeing an opportunity for mortgage customers to save money in a tax exempt way the Bradford & Bingley Society established the Homeowners Friendly Society (later to become Engage Mutual).

1985

Homeowners worked with community organisations to support national causes such as Red Nose Day and Children in Need.

1990

Family offered PEP investment through the recently established subsidiary Family Equity Plan Limited.

1992

After steady growth Homeowners moved to larger offices in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

1992

Homeowners helped Saint Michael’s Hospice in Harrogate purchase an additional building which enabled them to continue their invaluable work in the community.

1993

Fountains Abbey is a World Heritage site in Ripon, North Yorkshire. Through its sponsorship Homeowners helped to sustain this beautiful water garden and medieval deer park.

1995

Two acquisitions

Family acquires both the Lancashire and Yorkshire Assurance Friendly Society and Holborn and Metropolitan Friendly Society.

1997

To provide investment management services, Family set up an independent subsidiary called Pavilion Asset Management.

1999

Joining the rapidly increasing savings accounts market, Family launched its first ISA product.

2002

70,000 new members

A significant year for growth as 70,000 new members came to Family as the Post Office Insurance Society (POIS) was acquired.

2003

Giving the opportunity to offer with profits products, Homeowners transferred undertakings from the UK Civil Service Benefit Society.

2004

Family rebrands

Family Assurance was rebranded to Family Investments in readiness for the launch of a new account, the Child Trust Fund.

2004

Training Young People in Finance

In 2004 Homeowners start helping local schools and sixth form pupils become more financially aware with the Training Young People in Finance scheme.

2005

Homeowners rebrands

To be clear about the products and services Homeowners offered, the company’s name was changed to Engage Mutual Assurance.

2005

Engage started sponsoring the Super League. The English rugby league competition is known throughout the world and is watched by millions.

2008

Engage entered the health market by acquiring health cash plan provider Premier Health Benefits.

July

2008

Over 500,000 funds

In four years the number of CTF accounts held with Family Investments had grown to over 500,000.

2009

A great year for Family, acquiring the Abbey (now Santander) and LV= backbooks of CTF accounts, taking the total managed to over one million. Family also started offering the Abbey CTF to new customers.

2009

Family launched the Post Office Fixed Rate Cash ISA

October

2009

1.5m members

Membership of Family grew to 1.5 million by the end of 2009.

2010

Expanding the health business, Engage acquired Provincial Hospital Services Association (PHSA), a not-for-profit healthcare provider.

2012

The start of winning significant financial awards. Family won the Best Junior ISA Provider at the Moneyfacts Awards as well as the Best Children's Finance Product Provider at the Personal Finance Awards.

2012

After overseeing many years of successful growth at Family John Reeve retired as Chief Executive and was succeeded by current CEO Simon Markey.

November

2013

Big ticks all round

Part of the Prince’s Responsible Business Network, the Big Tick Education Award is won by Family for providing literacy and numeracy support in a local primary school and careers advice in a sixth form college.

2013

Engage Voted No. 1

Engage are voted No. 1 life assurer for servicing customers' claims by the LAMRA Life and Savings Benchmarking survey.

2013

Profits rising

A good year... profits increased by 83% and more than two million customers had policies.

2013

National recognition as Family investments are included in the prestigious London Stock Exchange report ‘1000 Companies to Inspire Britain’.

2014

Engaging with the community

Engage allocated £125,000 to community projects and £75,000 to individual grants as part of the Engage Foundation.

2014

Best investments

For the second time in three years Family Investments won the Best Junior ISA Provider at the Moneyfacts Awards.

December

2015

Awards for Engage

Awarded 5 Star Over 50s Life Cover from an independent rating by Defaqto.

2015

Our merger

In April 2015 Family Investments and Engage Mutual merge to become OneFamily.