News
Underwriting discipline key for MGAs
Gavin Dollings, chief underwriting officer at Rockstone Commercial, has highlighted that “flawless execution” of underwriting discipline is key for managing general agents as brokers want consistency of appetite.
Broker M&A ends half-year with a ‘whimper’ – MarshBerry
Mergers and acquisitions of UK insurance distribution business were down 35% in the first half of the year compared with 2024, specialist MarshBerry has calculated.
FCA’s Brewis responds to 15-hour training removal pushback
Matt Brewis, director of insurance at the FCA, has responded to the pushback against the watchdog proposing to end the specified minimum hours of training and development required for insurance employees.
Broker pot FSCS compensation ticks up to over £700,000
Claims against the general insurance distribution class, in which brokers sit, resulted in the Financial Services Compensation Scheme paying out £722,000 in the year ended 31 March 2025.
Biba reveals board changes as Evans steps down, succeeded by Fraser
Carl Evans is stepping down as chair of the British Insurance Brokers’ Association’s Larger Brokers’ Advisory Board, with Alistair Fraser succeeding him.
People Moves: 30 June – 4 July 2025
Keep up to date with the latest personnel moves in insurance.
‘An MGA is for life not just for Christmas’ – Dual’s Dixon
Managing general agents need to get away from transactional relationships and move into “deeper, more sustainable” ones with carriers, brokers and policyholders, according to Catherine Dixon, chief underwriting officer at Dual.
Over half of carriers expect to increase MGA capacity between now and 2027
Almost three in five (57%) of carriers are set to increase managing general agent capacity in the next two years, according to a new survey.
Insurance cases drop at FOS in 2024/25 with downward trend expected to continue
The number of insurance cases received by the Financial Ombudsman Service fell by almost 3% in 2024/25 to 45,606 new complaints.
CII members give thumbs down to FCA CPD proposal
The Chartered Insurance Institute has found significant opposition to the Financial Conduct Authority’s proposal to end the requirement for insurance employees to do a minimum of 15 hours training and development a year.
SRG buys Generation Underwriting from WF Risk Group
Specialist Risk Group has bought Newcastle-based managing general agent Generation Underwriting from WF Risk Group.
Brokers brought into scope of FCA’s bullying and harassment misconduct rules
The Financial Conduct Authority is extending the scope of serious bullying and harassment in financial firms qualifying as misconduct to around 37,000 regulated firms, including insurance brokers.
Simply Business operating profit soars almost 90% in 2024
Xbridge, which trades as Simply Business, increased operating profit to £45.91m for the year ended 31 December 2024, up almost 90% from the previous year.
Home insurance premiums fall 3.8% in Q2
Home insurance premiums continued to fall in the second quarter of 2025 with the average top five prices down by 3.8%, according to Pearson Ham.
Aviva names Owen Morris UK personal lines CEO as Direct Line deal completes
Owen Morris has been appointed CEO of UK personal lines at Aviva as the Direct Line takeover went through.
Superscript to enter motor market as it targets £120m GWP by 2028
Digital insurance broker Superscript is gearing up to enter the motor market as it aims to treble its gross written premium to £120m in three years.
FCA confirms £38.8m broker fees for 2025/26
The Financial Conduct Authority has confirmed brokers will contribute £38.8m to its £783.5m budget for 2025/26.
MBC rebrands to Clear Insurance Ireland
McAuliffe Barry & Collins Insurance (trading as MBC Insurance and Techinsure.ie) has rebranded as Clear Insurance Ireland.
Acrisure rebrands Scottish brokers
Affinity Brokers has become the first of Acrisure’s Scottish insurance brokers to rebrand, after being bought by the consolidator in 2023.
Credit and political risk broker completes EOT switch
The Texel Group, a credit and political risk insurance broker, has completed its transition to 100% employee ownership through the creation of the Texel employee ownership trust.
CMA greenlights Aviva’s takeover of DLG
The Competition and Markets Authority has today cleared Aviva’s takeover of Direct Line Group.
MGA backer Accelerant files for IPO in US
Risk exchange platform and capacity provider Accelerant, a major player in the UK managing general agents market, has revealed plans for an IPO in the US.
Thomas Carroll grows turnover and profit in inaugural EOT year
Thomas Carroll Group boosted turnover by 7.1% to £15.61m in 2024, with profits also rising in its full first year as an employee ownership trust.
Hiscox launches cargo API
Hiscox has launched a cargo application programming interface-based solution, available through broker partners for underwriting small cargo and stock throughput risks.