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Gallagher ends 2022 with its highest quarter of UK organic growth
Gallagher has posted organic growth in the UK of 17% for the final quarter of 2022.
Former NIG boss Greenwood named Direct Line acting CEO as James steps down
Direct Line Group has appointed Jon Greenwood as acting CEO following Penny James stepping down from the permanent role with immediate effect.
Biba eschews stuffing manifesto with simple, low hanging fruit, says White
The British Insurance Brokers’ Association’s manifesto is not a “bellyache” document but one full of solutions, CEO Steve White told Insurance Age.
Car premiums surge 19% in 2022
Comprehensive car insurance premiums increased sharply by 19% during the last 12 months, with UK motorists now paying £629 on average, according to the latest Car Insurance Price Index.
Aviva hit with extra claims costs from cold weather snap
Aviva has estimated that freezing weather in the UK during December will cost the insurer around £50m at a group level.
Zurich to expand claims concierge service to commercial and SME mid-market customers from Q1
Zurich UK has launched a bespoke concierge service for its personal lines customers in a move it claimed was an industry-first.
Saga confirms underwriting sale talks
Over 50s-group Saga has confirmed ongoing talks to sell its underwriting business Acromas Insurance.
Stella targeting £300m motor GWP within years, says Sam White
Managing general agent Stella Insurance launched in the UK with a motor offering in November 2022 and is targeting £10m of gross written premium this year, according to its founder and CEO Sam White.
Only 14% of smaller SMEs have business continuity plans: Aviva
Aviva has urged brokers to keep having the conversations needed with clients on business continuity plans as the insurer revealed only 28% of firms have one in place.
Lawyers urge brokers to be vigilant about their own E&O
Law firm RPC has warned brokers to be vigilant about their own errors and omissions, and to stay on top of documentation against a backdrop of customers potentially opting for cheaper, but less protective insurance, in the cost-of-living crisis.
Why Direct Line's disastrous profit warning should matter to brokers
Direct Line's profit warning sent shockwaves through UK insurer's share price yesterday, with Aviva and Admiral also suffering. Personal lines brokers should notice the problems Direct Line faces, as they are industry-wide and give insight into what to…
Sutton Group profit and turnover soar in run-up to Acrisure sale
Sutton Group has reported ‘best ever’ figures as turnover and profit leapt by 15% and 50% respectively ahead of being snapped up by Acrisure.
Caravan Guard posts turnover dip but underlying growth
Caravan Guard has posted a 6% fall in turnover to £11.9m in the year ended 31 March 2022.
Brokers urged to tighten safeguards amid threat of client underinsurance backlash
Brokers are being urged to tighten safeguards amid the threat of businesses, suffering problems from underinsurance, taking legal action.
Qmetric swings to loss
Policy Expert owner Qmetric Group Holdings has posted a post-tax loss of £9.99m as gross written premium broke through the £200m barrier.
FCA claims data shows customers get a ‘far better outcome’ via advised broking - Blanc
The FCA’s claims data on personal lines shows customers get a ‘far better outcome’ when taking advise through brokers, according to Aston Lark chief executive Peter Blanc.
AM Best downgrades Qatar Insurance Company ratings
Ratings agency AM Best has downgraded the financial strength and long-term issuer credit ratings of Markerstudy-affiliated Qatar Insurance Company to A- (Excellent) from A (Excellent).
Fair value? Which household insurers are rejecting the most claims?
Ageas, Axa UK and LV have some of the highest claims rejection rates in home insurance out of all the insurers who work with brokers, Financial Conduct Authority figures show.
Only 8% of broking CEO and 5.4% of chair roles held by women
With gender diversity falling in key regulated senior management functions at brokers and lagging behind the low levels in the FCA-regulated financial services sector Insurance Age takes a deep-dive into which posts are held by women as our Broker…
Stark FOI data reveals scale of broking’s gender diversity leadership gap
Broking’s lack of gender diversity in key senior management function roles has got worse since 2020 with the sector also falling behind the current low levels set by the FCA-regulated financial services industry, a Freedom of Information request by…
Broking Success: Partnership power
Stuart Reid, non-exec chair of Partners&, explains why a penchant for buying does not make the broker a consolidator and how staying true to its founding ideals has helped it grow – with more to come
News analysis: Why are brokers offshoring to South Africa?
Complete Cover recently became the latest personal lines broker to offshore some of its operations to South Africa. Saxon East explores the attraction for intermediaries in outsourcing to a country over 6000 miles away from the UK
Editor's letter: Broker offshoring - will it reach a full scale ‘Boom’?
Writing about insurance at the beginning of the 21st century, offshoring was very much in vogue.
Under 20% of firms meet FCA expectations on attestation records
Only 11 out of 66 firms in the Financial Conduct Authority’s general insurance pricing review provided attestation records that met the regulator’s expectations.