With over 50 years of experience between them, and a genuine passion for helping businesses grow with confidence, Steve Hamstead and Paul Martin are the driving force behind Attis Credit Solutions.
As joint Managing Directors, they bring a wealth of knowledge, experience, and industry insight.
We sat down to find out what keeps them motivated, what’s changed in the credit insurance landscape, and their proudest moments.
Speaking about the company’s inception, Paul reflected on what their focus was in putting together the first members of the Attis Family…
When Attis was founded, what were the main things you were looking for in order to build the team we now have?
Paul: When we founded Attis, the most important thing we focused on when building the team was people – not just skillsets, but mindset. We work in a people industry, and that means we need likeable, able individuals who can build trust, communicate clearly, and genuinely connect with clients. From day one, I’ve valued attitude above ability. You can teach ability, but you can’t teach attitude – and it’s the right attitude that creates a culture of learning, collaboration, and service. The team we have today is the result of hiring individuals who share our values, bring energy and integrity to their work, and understand that relationships matter just as much as results.
As Paul explains, that early focus on people-first culture has remained central to the way the business runs today.
Continuing with how the team was built, Steve outlined the culture they have fostered at Attis.
How would you describe the culture of working here?
Steve: Our workplace is fast-paced and highly collaborative, driven by a shared commitment to achieving results efficiently and as a team. We value open communication, adaptability, and collective problem-solving. Alongside pro-actively supporting our clients, we prioritise employee development, encouraging continuous learning, offering growth opportunities, and supporting each person’s professional journey. We foster an environment where people feel valued, supported and motivated, which is one of our key core values.
Service with integrity is clearly not just a saying at Attis, it’s a way of life – and the focus on the people in the business is evident.
Steve goes on to talk about what makes him proud of the company…
What are you proudest of about the past four years with Attis?
Steve: Our people. We’ve been fortunate enough to attract and retain the best people in our industry. Our growth has been phenomenal though without our people this would not have been possible. It gives us great satisfaction to watch our team develop and great pleasure to promote from within. This is something we are immensely proud of.
Along with proudest achievements, there have been some learning curves.
Paul addresses some surprises and lessons over the past four years…
What’s the most surprising or unexpected lesson you’ve learned since Attis began?
Paul: One of the biggest surprises since starting Attis has been just how much this business comes down to people and trust – more than I ever expected. I knew relationships were important, but what’s really hit home is how far being honest, reliable, and genuinely helpful gets you. Clients want to know you’ve got their back, especially when things go wrong – and that matters more than just having the best product. The other big lesson has been around hiring. I’ve learned that attitude really does beat ability. You can teach someone the ins and outs of credit insurance, but you can’t teach them to care, to show up with the right mindset, or to be great with people. We work in a people industry, and having likeable, capable people on the team has made all the difference.
With such a strong team and supportive management, it’s clear that Attis has a bright future ahead. Steve looks ahead…
What do you see the next few years looking like for Attis and the industry?
Steve: We continue to harbour growth aspirations, not only from a revenue perspective but also geographic growth. We want to be ahead of the curve when it comes to delivering tailored credit solutions for our clients. The trade credit insurance market has stabilised somewhat this year despite ongoing political instability, trade tensions, and economic volatility. Risk underwriters are scrutinising capacity more closely as inflationary pressures filter through to credit limit demand. Our market has become more agile in overcoming capacity issues, all insurers appear to have appetite to syndicate credit risk in order to meet client demands.
The past four years have been a wild ride, full of success, learning, and growth. But it’s not always that easy to stay positive.
Steve and Paul reflected on what keeps them motivated.
What keeps you motivated?
Paul: Seeing just how quickly the business has grown is a big motivator – it’s exciting to see what we’ve built in such a short space of time becoming one of the Uk’s largest independent specialist credit insurance brokers. But what really keeps me going is watching the team develop. Seeing colleagues grow in confidence, take on more responsibility, and genuinely enjoy coming to work – that’s incredibly rewarding. We’ve worked hard to build a culture where people feel valued, supported, and part of something. Watching that culture come to life, and seeing how much pride the team takes in their work, is what motivates me. It’s not just about building a successful business – it’s about building a great place to work, too.
Steve: I’m driven by the opportunity to shape our direction as a business, influence culture and make decisions that truly matter, centred on the people behind our business. I get great satisfaction from developing people seeing team members grow, progress and succeed. Client relationships are core to my motivation, helping them navigate credit risk, grow their business and trust us as a long-term partner keeps me engaged and accountable.
And finally, because I’m sure a lot of people in the industry can relate when people just can’t grasp what we do, we asked Paul to sum it up in the most universal way possible…
Explain what we do as if you were explaining it to an alien.
Paul: Imagine you’re a trader on your planet, selling goods to other aliens. You send them your goods and expect them to pay you later. But what if they don’t pay? Maybe their business crashes, or something unexpected happens. That’s a big risk for you. Credit insurance is like a protective shield. It makes sure that if your buyer doesn’t pay you, you still get your money — from an insurance company. Now, a credit insurance broker is like a smart guide or translator who understands all the shield options in the galaxy. They don’t work for just one shield-maker (insurer); instead, they help you find the best shield for your kind of business and customers. They negotiate, advise, and support you if something goes wrong. So in short: a credit insurance broker helps businesses protect themselves from not getting paid, by finding them the right protection from the right insurer.
From the beginning, Attis Credit Solutions has been built on a foundation of trust, relationships, and a shared commitment to doing things differently.
With Paul and Steve at the helm, the focus on people, both clients and colleagues remains stronger than ever.
As the industry evolves, one thing is certain: Attis will continue to grow with integrity, purpose, and a team that truly cares.