What Foresters Friendly Society does

Foresters Friendly Society is a UK member-owned mutual life insurer and Friendly Society founded in 1834 and headquartered in Southampton. It operates without external shareholders, returning surplus to members via discretionary benefits, and serves two primary customer bases: approximately 55,000 individual members organized across 189 regional "Courts," and around 100,000 individuals covered through group insurance arrangements spanning 50 employer schemes and 30 Police Federations.

Its product set has narrowed significantly: investment and savings plans are closed to new business, leaving Group Risk insurance intermediated via brokers and Police Federations as the primary active new-business line, alongside the recently launched Foresters Plus discretionary membership package that bundles non-insurance benefits such as shopping discounts (Parliament Hill) and a personal nurse service (RedArc). Underlying technical operations are largely outsourced, with AXA Investment Managers managing the with-profits and unit-linked funds and a small set of acquired subsidiaries (Tunstall Assurance, Leek Assurance, POIS) housing legacy books.

Foresters makes money primarily through premiums on in-force life and savings policies, investment returns on a £268m asset base across three funds (With-Profits £78.15m, POIS Flexible Growth £14.68m, POIS Savings £28.78m), and fee-style charges embedded in member benefits. Premium income was £19m as last disclosed in 2015; the society employs 51-100 staff and has, in 2024-2025, refreshed its executive leadership under new CEO Richard Dickinson and Chairman David Henderson, while partnering with Shelter as its charity of the year for 2026/27.

Name

Foresters Friendly Society

Legal name

The Ancient Order of Foresters Friendly Society Limited

Website

https://forestersfriendlysociety.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1834

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Foresters Friendly Society is a UK member-owned mutual life insurer (founded 1834, Southampton) serving 55,000 individual members and 100,000+ group-insured lives through Police Federations and employer schemes, with new business focused on Group Risk and its Foresters Plus benefits package.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Southampton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Annual Management Charges: Annual management charge of 2% deducted from the value of investment plans (Lifetime ISA, Stocks & Shares ISA, Junior ISA), covering costs for managing the savings products. Charges never exceed 3% of plan value.
2. Investment Fund Management: Manages £268m in funds under management across With-Profits Fund (£78.15m), POIS Flexible Growth Fund (£14.68m), and POIS Savings Fund (£28.78m). Revenue generated through investment management fees and spreads.
3. Membership Subscriptions: Individual membership at £30 per year and Household membership at £55 per year, providing access to Foresters Plus benefits including discretionary grants, social events, and shopping discounts.
4. Group Insurance Premiums: Group Life Insurance, Critical Illness, and Personal Accident insurance premiums collected from over 100,000 individuals through 50 schemes, with particular specialization in Police Federations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Foresters Friendly Society is a member-owned mutual friendly society that provides tax-advantaged savings plans (Lifetime ISA, Stocks & Shares ISA, Junior ISA, Child Trust Fund), Group Risk Insurance (Life Insurance, Critical Illness, and Personal Accident cover for Police Federations and employer groups), and a Foresters Plus membership package offering discretionary financial grants, nurse-led healthcare support, shopping discounts, and access to 180+ local community branches.

Product overview

Foresters Friendly Society operates as a member-owned mutual society established in 1834, offering a portfolio of financial savings and protection products alongside a membership benefits program. The core savings products include Lifetime ISA, Stocks & Shares ISA, Junior ISA, and Child Trust Fund (all closed to new business), with active Group Risk insurance offerings providing Life Insurance, Critical Illness, and Personal Accident cover. The Society manages three investment funds: the With-Profits Fund (WPF), POIS Flexible Growth Fund, and POIS Savings Fund. The Foresters Plus membership program (£30-55/year) provides member benefits including discretionary grants, the Foresters Care nurse support service (via RedArc), shopping discounts (via Parliament Hill), and access to 180+ local social branches. The organization is regulated by the FCA and PRA and is a member of the FSCS.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Foresters Plus: Membership benefits package offering discretionary financial grants, practical help, social events, shopping and lifestyle discounts, and Foresters Care support services from £30 per year individual or £55 per year household membership.
• Foresters Care

Products and services

• Lifetime ISA Stocks & Shares Lifetime ISA allowing contributions up to £4,000 annually with a 25% government bonus, designed for first home purchase (properties under £450,000) or retirement savings from age 60. The product is closed to new business but continues to service existing policyholders.
• Stocks & Shares ISA Tax-free long-term savings ISA with flexible contribution options and potential growth through annual and final bonuses. Allows up to £20,000 annual contribution for the 2024/2025 tax year. The product is closed to new business but continues to service existing policyholders.
• Junior ISA Tax-free savings plan for children with up to £9,000 annual contribution allowance. Funds are invested in the With Profits Fund and locked until the child reaches 18. The product is closed to new business.
• Child Trust Fund Government-launched savings vehicle (2002-2011) for children with contributions up to £9,000 annually. Funds are invested in the With Profits Fund and mature when the child turns 18. The product is closed to new business.
• Group Risk Insurance Group insurance schemes providing Life Insurance, Critical Illness, and Personal Accident cover. Specializes in Police Federation schemes, insuring over 100,000 individuals through 50 schemes including 30 UK Police Federations.
• Foresters Plus Membership Annual membership package (£30 individual, £55 household) providing access to discretionary grants, Foresters Care nurse support service, shopping and lifestyle discounts, social events, and community branch involvement.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over £1.4 million in discretionary grants and charitable donations awarded to members and communities in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RedArc Assured LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRedArc provides the Foresters Care service - a personal nurse advice service delivered by registered nurses. Foresters Care has supported thousands of members through serious and long-term physical and mental illnesses, trauma, eldercare and bereavement. Members speak to the same nurse throughout for continuity of care.
• Parliament HillcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerParliament Hill provides shopping and lifestyle discounts exclusively for Foresters Plus members. As the UK's market leader in Member Benefits with over 21 years of experience, they enable discounts on groceries, utility bills, takeaways, and more.
• AXA Investment ManagerscoreTechnology or IntegrationAXA Investment Managers provides additional investment diversification and potential return for policyholders. They engage under the Shareholder Rights Directive (2) requirements with an engagement strategy for monitoring company strategy, performance, and environmental/social impact.
• HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)coreOthersForesters liaises with HMRC to ensure Lifetime ISA accounts receive the 25% government bonus on monthly contributions. The government bonus is based on contributions made each tax year.
• SheltercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShelter is the chosen charity for Foresters' 2026/2027 Annual Charity Appeal. Shelter is a national UK housing and homelessness charity working for more than 60 years to defend the right to a safe home.
• Foresters BrassminorGTM or Marketing PartnerForesters is proud sponsor of Foresters Brass, a band which can trace its roots back to 1902. Based in Leicester, they have performed at prestigious venues including the Royal Albert Hall.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Holloway Friendly: UK friendly society offering income protection and health-related insurance products to individuals and group schemes. Direct mutual/friendly society peer with similar regulatory standing (PRA/FCA), mutual structure, and member-benefit focus; Stuart Tragheim, Foresters' Deputy Chairman, was previously Holloway's CEO.
• Police Mutual: UK mutual providing financial services specifically to police officers, including insurance, savings, and loans. Most direct competitor in the Police Federation group insurance vertical where Foresters has its dominant position.
• Scottish Friendly: UK mutual friendly society offering ISAs, Junior ISAs, savings plans, and life insurance. Comparable size and product mix (savings-focused) with similar regulatory standing; directly competes for UK retail savings customers.
• British Friendly: UK mutual friendly society specialising in income protection and group protection insurance. Comparable mutual structure, mutual regulation (PRA/FCA), and focus on member benefits with similar scale to Foresters.
• OneFamily: UK mutual offering Junior ISAs, Child Trust Funds, savings, and family-focused financial products. Direct competitor in the children's savings space where Foresters' Junior ISA and Child Trust Fund products operate; similar mutual ownership model.
• Wesleyan: UK mutual financial services provider focused on professionals and group schemes, offering ISAs, life insurance, and group protection. Comparable mutual structure, professional/specialist customer segments, and PRA/FCA-regulated savings and protection products.
• Teachers Assurance: UK mutual financial services provider focused on teachers and education professionals, offering ISAs, savings, and insurance products. Foresters' CEO Richard Dickinson previously worked at Teachers Assurance; operates with similar mutual structure and member-focused positioning.

Broad incumbents

• NFU Mutual: Large UK mutual providing general insurance, life insurance, and pensions with a member-owned structure. Much broader product portfolio and larger scale, but shares the mutual values positioning, FSCS protection, and member-benefit focus that defines Foresters' brand.
• Royal London: UK's largest mutual life and pensions provider offering ISAs, pensions, life insurance, and group protection. Competes in the same savings and group protection categories as Foresters but at significantly larger scale with broader distribution.
• Liverpool Victoria (LV=): Major UK mutual insurer offering life insurance, critical illness, income protection, ISAs, and pensions. Foresters' new CEO Richard Dickinson previously worked at LV=; both compete in the same group protection and individual savings markets with mutual positioning.

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/forestersfriendly
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/foresters-friendly-society
• Instagraminstagram.com/forestersfriendlysociety
• Xx.com/ForestersFriend

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Foresters Friendly Society