Articles by Insurance Age staff
Howden lifts the lid on MGA sale valuations
The UK remains the largest European market for MGAs, with gross written premium estimated at approximately £7.2bn in 2025, up around 20% year-on-year (2024: £6.3bn).
Biba 2026 Countdown: Coalition UK’s Tom Draper
Tom Draper, managing director of Coalition UK, is looking forward to the Biba Conference magical hour where the formal seminar stage brain fatigue gives way to insurance engagement and recommends brokers double down on being pillars of their communities.
Biba 2026 Countdown: Hedron’s Chris Taylor
Chris Taylor, trading and distribution director at Hedron Network, loves the fact that the Biba Conference bucks the growing trend of remote interactions and looks forward to having a ‘breather’ at its network lunch on Wednesday.
How Premium Finance Supports Broker Growth
Strong partnerships, data-led insight and broker capability are key to sustainable growth in a soft market.
Biba 2026 Countdown: Bspoke’s Kieran Molloy
Kieran Molloy, underwriting manager at Bspoke, believes the spontaneous Biba meetings are often the most valuable and describes the perfect insurance all-rounder as someone with a never-say-die attitude who can win when everything is stacked against them.
Biba 2026 Countdown: Drive Further’s Jon Daniels
Jon Daniels, managing director of Drive Further, recommends that a bit of preparation goes a long way before the conference and looks forward to the quality conversations when things get calmer on Thursday morning.
Biba recruits ‘great match’ Maxwell as Northern regional manager
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association has appointed Lesley Maxwell as regional manager for the North.
Biba 2026 Countdown: Aviva’s Michael Yabantu
Michael Yabantu, managing director of mid-market at Aviva, is keen to talk to brokers to work together to address the protection gap for customers and hints that the insurer’s Wednesday night event might have an element of Madness to it.
Biba 2026 Countdown: Axa’s Matt Field
Matt Field, partnerships director at Axa Insurance UK – retail, invites people to visit its van on the cobbled area next to the conference centre and warns against burn out by over-filling your diary with appointments.
Aviva makes third acquisition in three years buying long standing partner
Aviva has acquired DisasterCare Group in a move that it believes will strengthen its disaster recovery and restoration capability, as well as support a quicker end-to-end property claims process for customers, brokers and partners.
Biba 2026 Countdown: QuestGates’ Dave Clare
Dave Clare, operations director - building consultancy division of QuestGates, highlights the importance of getting the fundamentals right and raises the possibility of doing a turn singing My Way dressed as a calculator.
Biba 2026 Countdown: CyberCube’s Nate Brink
Nate Brink, head of broker sales and account management at CyberCube, is flying in from Michigan to attend his first ever Biba Conference and is looking forward to savouring a local curry and gaining valuable insights in the coffee queues.
Biba 2026 Countdown: Gambit and Mode Insurance’s Ajay Mistry
Gambit Insurance Solutions and Mode Insurance founder and director, Ajay Mistry, recommends being selective and not trying to be everywhere on Wednesday night and sending a quick message/thank you by way of a follow up after the event.
Biba 2026 Countdown: QBE’s Janine Bowler
Janine Bowler, Manchester interim head of trading at QBE, recommends Salut wine bar for an external catch up and is looking forward to the buzz when the event opens on Wednesday 13 May.
Adrian Flux renews deal with partner of 22 years
Top 100 UK broker Adrian Flux has renewed with its premium finance provider of 22 years.
Biba 2026 Countdown: Crawford & Company’s Paul Lofkin
Paul Lofkin, UK and Ireland president at Crawford & Company, hails the all round skills of the loss adjusting sector and promotes the benefits of digital enablement to free up time to invest in client relationships.
Biba 2026 Countdown: UGL’s Derek Coles
Derek Coles, CEO of UGL, suggests Biba is often a tale of two breakfasts, compares Brendan McManus to Ben Stokes and recommends a watering hole for some downtime away from the conference centre.
Biba 2026 Countdown: nCino’s Hanré Cillié
Hanré Cillié, RVP of insurance growth and compliance at nCino, reckons Biba really gets going when the coffee kicks in and might be seen singing Wonderwall dressed as an alligator after dinner on Wednesday night.
Hiscox bolsters HNW digital trading with new portal
Hiscox has revealed that a full‑cycle digital portal for its high net worth home insurance proposition is now live.
Biba 2026 Countdown: Zurich’s Morgan Lyons
Zurich head of mid-market at Zurich Morgan Lyons warns Biba first timers not to go too big on night one and believes it is the time for brokers to be laser‑focused on their placement strategies.
Biba 2026 Countdown: Markel UK’s Joanne Sykes
Joanne Skyes, divisional director of UK broker at Markel, recommends brokers choose a specialism, compares Biba CEO Graeme Trudgill to England all-rounder Ben Stokes and bigs up the insurer’s event at Society.
MGA Addept announces marine legal expenses tie-up
Addept Insurance Services has launched a new scheme with sail and motor yacht insurance provider, Pantaenius UK.
Biba 2026 Countdown: Premium Credit’s Jon Howells
Jon Howells, chief commercial officer for insurance premium finance at Premium Credit, compares the Tuesday evening before conference starts as arriving back at school for a new term and won’t reveal his favourite Biba haunt for fear of more lanyards…
Coversure expands with faith-based insurance brand Dharam Rakshak
Jensten-owned Coversure has opened its first new office this financial year, with an existing member launching a standalone faith-based brand.