Hastings Direct

The company was established, based on the business plan prepared by David Gundlach and Andrew Bowen, as "Hastings Direct" in 1997. It was acquired by Insurance Australia Group in 2006 and then by its management in 2009. In 2011 the company announced that 150 new posts would be created, with the first 60 to be recruited in January in the Bexhill, Hastings, Eastbourne, Brighton and Hove areas. Goldman Sachs acquired a 50% interest in the company in 2013. The company was the subject of an initial public offering in October 2015.

The company trades under the Hastings Direct, Hastings Premier, Hastings Essential, YouDrive, People's Choice and InsurePink brands. In 2012, the company launched a usage-based insurance product under the Hastings Direct YouDrive brand. The YouDrive product requires a telematics device to be fitted to the insured vehicle.

Insurance policies provided by the company are issued by a panel of insurers, including Advantage Insurance Company Limited, a Gibraltar based company.

The company is known for its mascot, Harry Hastings, an animated figure dressed in armour from the Battle of Hastings in 1066. He is also known for singing a catchy tune of the number 0800 00 1066 (with the final 4-digit number being a reference about the Battle of Hastings.) Based in Bexhill-on-Sea, the company is one of the largest employers on the South Coast. The company also has a second call centre in Leicester.

Toby van der Meer became the CEO of Hastings Group on 1 March 2018. The previous CEO, Gary Hoffman, became non-executive chairman.