Of course individual plan is more costly compare to the group. Believe me it's a big gap differences.
Any plans from any insurance company will do if it's fit in your requirement because all payout are according to the policy in hand.
Example.
If your friend's company is big enough, he may suggest to his employees:-
option 1. all employee to get individual plan.
option 2, if opt1 too costly, try have a meeting with employee to get individual but with certain percentage of subsidy from the company.
option 3. if opt1 & 2 costly, then may think of this, all executive level get individual plan only, and the rest get group.
option 4, if above all still costly, then don't think too much, just get group insurance.
option 5, if all above is out of budget, then pray hard nothing happen to your friend's employees.

is not very big only a few technicians, but nature of work is dangerous i think option 2 is good enough since chinaman co always more stingy