Niche work if you can get it

As capacity contracts, the challenge of placing high-risk businessgets harder - which is why, says Robin Kirkland, intermediaries shouldmake more use of 'boutique' brokerages that specialise in securingparticular classes of cover

Following recent takeovers, mergers and closures, there are now lessthan one-quarter as many general insurers in the UK market than there were10 years ago. This means that groups and individuals in specialist,'high-risk' occupations now have fewer places to look for insurance thanever before.

The soft market we enjoyed during much of the last decade has created asurfeit of insurers and competition that has kept prices low. There arenow fewer insurers looking for business, and they are examining