The Compass Scheme: 50 Years of Looking After Parks, and the People Who Live and Holiday in Them
The story of the Compass Insurance Scheme begins in 1976. The idea was first shared at an NFSO Conference in April, before being officially announced later that summer in the July/August edition of the National Federation for Site Operators (NFSO) journal.
Originally, Compass was created to provide specialist insurance for caravan and holiday park owners and operators. At a time when suitable cover was hard to come by, the scheme stepped in to protect parks where the wider insurance market often could not. That clear focus on understanding life on parks shaped everything Compass would become.
Original Scheme Advert 1977 – The NFSO Journal January/February
A Name with Purpose
In 1983, the scheme adopted the name Compass, standing for Complete Park and Site Security. The name reflected a simple idea: providing all round protection and reassurance. The Compass identity reinforced its role not just as an insurance product, but as a dependable guide for members.
Just as a real compass helps you find your way, Compass was there to guide park operators through risk, offering reassurance as well as protection. Over time, that same guiding approach would be extended beyond park businesses to the people who live and holiday on them too.
The Compass brand was officially launched in 1984, revealed in the January/February issue of the NFSO Journal. Its distinctive hand logo symbolised guidance, care, and protection, values that remain at the heart of Compass today.
To mark the launch, a specially commissioned Minton hand was presented, creating a lasting symbol of Compass’s commitment to looking after its members and the communities they support.
Compass Logo 1984-1987
Growing with Parks and Their Communities
In 1986, the NFSO became the British Holiday & Home Parks Association (BH&HPA). Compass continued seamlessly alongside the association, remaining a trusted insurance partner as the parks sector grew and evolved.
In October 1987, the UK was struck by the Great Storm, a defining moment for the industry. Compass handled more than 2,500 claims, paying out over £3 million, during a period when the storm caused an estimated £2 billion in wider economic damage*.
*BH&HPA Journal July/August 1988.
Compass Logo 1987-1997 & BH&HPA Article 1987
Further extreme weather followed in 1990 with Cyclone Daria, which brought wind speeds of up to 104 mph and caused an estimated £3.37 billion in damage*. Events like these reinforced the importance of having insurance designed specifically for parks and their communities.
*https://www.swissre.com/risk-knowledge/mitigating-climate-risk/winter-storms-in-europe/cyclone-daria-burns-day-storm.html
Compass Logo 1997-2015
Innovation Rooted in Real Life
In 1996, Compass continued to adapt to real‑world needs, introducing Family Fleet, a motor insurance solution covering members, their families, and employees under one policy. With protected no‑claims bonuses, cover for private and commercial vehicles, courtesy cars, and enhanced repairs, it reflected Compass’s practical, people‑focused mindset.
Compass Logo 2015-2018
A New Chapter in Stewardship
In 2018, Binnacle was established to manage the scheme. Named after the protective housing that keeps a ship’s compass steady, it reflected Compass’s role in safeguarding others through change.
Binnacle later became Bspoke Lifestyle, the company that manages Compass today, continuing the scheme’s long‑standing focus on protection, clarity, and trust.
Compass Logo 2018-2022
Still as Relevant as Ever
Severe weather again made headlines in 2023, when Storms Babet and Ciarán hit the UK. Together, they resulted in insurance losses of more than £560 million*, with wind speeds reaching 115 mph and 81 mph respectively.
These events served as a reminder that specialist insurance remains just as important today, for park operators, homeowners, and holidaymakers alike.
*https://www.actuarialpost.co.uk/article/overcoming-the-storm-22863.html
Compass Logo 2022-2026
Looking Ahead to 50 Years
In 2026 Compass is celebrating its 50th anniversary, with refreshed branding aligned to the BH&HPA’s transition to the Holiday and Residential Parks Association (HARPA).
Half a century after it began, Compass continues to live up to its name, guiding and protecting parks, people, and places through changing landscapes, challenges, and opportunities.
Compass Logo 2026
To tell this story, we traced Compass’s journey through a variety of BH&HPA journals and online sources, stitching together the moments that shaped its identity and legacy.
