The Pulborough team is pleased and proud to have qualified in the top 50 branches in the country and 2nd June saw four of us embarking the flight at Heathrow, Dubai-bound. Mutual Challenge, as this 'club' is called, usually alternates venues between the UK and Europe but, as 2010 is our Centenary year, the powers that be arranged something a little special.

Amanda, Stephanie, Russ and Caroline spent some time in conference, sharing best practice, receiving updates on current incentives and projects and listening to very interesting presentations, especially from The Co-Operators of Canada who told us about their out-of-hours service, which is already up and running and which system we are piloting at the Pulborough branch from September (more details to follow). But it was not all work; we had welcome drinks in the shadow of the Burj al Arab (the one that looks like the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth), had a 4x4 safari into the desert, with a falconry display, followed by a camp dinner (and belly dancing, in which some participated!) and finally a gala dinner and award ceremony.

It was a one-off event for NFU Mutual and one that we were thrilled and priviliged to attend. Our only sorrow was that Mike was unable to join us, although this was due to his wife having just given birth so he had his own joys.

The External Sales team would like to thank the whole branch team, our Sales Consultant, Nigel Williams, Training Consultant, Alan Lambert, and local management for their support in helping us to achieve this accolade. We plan to go to Stockholm next year so watch this space....