SME
Axa branches to move to mid-market focus
Jon Walker explains how the regional network will develop as some offices are set to become specialist call centres.
Vista Insurance Brokers launches North West subsidiary
The fresh division is set to focus on construction, manufacturing, import/export, engineering, and haulage.
Consolidation of the consolidators next step as broker M&A targets reduce
IMAS director John Nisbet discusses how consolidators can continue to grow and warns that private equity backers could move on from the sector as a result of a “diminishing opportunity” in the broking market.
Aviva risk report highlights broker role
Insurance Age takes a first look at the Aviva Risk Insights Report which considers Covid-19, Brexit, cyber, climate change and the part of brokers.
Avid swoops for specialist construction MGA
Deal for IIGL will see Avid diversify into four new specialisms as the MGA's GWP reaches £75m.
Blog: Resilience in action
Large swathes of the UK’s SME sector have been ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic, but many have also been able to adapt, survive and reshape with the support of their brokers, writes Tom Hill, Executive Director at Aqueous Underwriting.
Blog: No end in sight to current lockdown adds to the stress for SMEs
Aviva’s Dave Carey discusses pandemic-related challenges for SMEs and what brokers and insurers can do to help.
Video: New research underlines need for brokers to educate over flood risk
Floodflash founder CEO Adam Rimmer talks to Insurance Age content director Jonathan Swift about a new survey it undertook that found that 48% of businesses worry about flooding as a threat to the UK economy.
Biba zones in on resilience in 2021 manifesto
Manifesto includes a number of commitments from the broker trade body, covering areas including underinsurance as a result of the pandemic, IPT, cyber insurance and signposting to help customers access insurance.
Iprism unveils e-traded excess of loss product for SMEs
MGA says new offering was developed in response to broker demand.
Blog: Why the BI ruling offers brokers the perfect opportunity to show their mettle
Following the Supreme Court business interruption ruling last week, Jonathan Swift argues brokers need not join their insurer partners in suffering Murder By the Orient Express, but instead play an important role in helping policyholders understand what…
A-Plan to absorb Howden’s UK retail business
More than 100 staff are set to move across as A-Plan is set to become Howden’s retail flagship.
Markerstudy's still in talks for commercial lines capacity deal
Group underwriting director Gary Humphreys says that the provider is speaking with a new carrier after it was forced to go "on hiatus" for new quotes in commercial lines almost a year ago.
SME specialist Ballantyne Brokers launches
Co-founder Ross Ballantyne says there is strong demand for a new broker in the market as "excessive market consolidation" leads to clients becoming disenfranchised.
Partners& teams up with CFC and CPP to launch new cyber offering
Partners& has launched a cyber risk management offering in collaboration with a trio of sector specialists CFC underwriting, CPP Group and Mitigate Cyber.
Insurer QC accuses FCA of "hair splitting wordsmithery” as Supreme Court showdown continues
Insurers and the regulator set out their starkly differing views on the use of trends clauses on day two of the ongoing business interruption test case hearing at the Supreme Court.
Generali develops PI for SMEs
The product is available to UK brokers and aimed at SMEs and the self-employed.
Syndicate 1991 to go into run-off
The Lloyd's syndicate will stop writing business on 31 December in another loss for the liability market.
Opinion: Four cornerstones for resilience
Jaime Swindle discusses key findings from Bravo Group’s latest series of economic-focused white papers and explains how resilience will see brokers through the dark days of winter
SMEs cut back on insurance spend amid Covid-19 financial struggles
Research from Premium Credit shows over half of SMEs have stopped paying for covers including employers' liability and professional indemnity as well as business interruption.
Advisory forum created to help small businesses recover post pandemic
Seven industry figures have joined the forum which was launched by Peach Pi to collaborate on improving relationships with consumers and within the industry.
Blog: The claims lessons to learn from Covid-19
Neill Johnstone of Lorega assesses the impact of the claims experience during coronavirus and outlines what good looks like.
Parametric insurtech FloodFlash targets bigger risks with new launch
Insurtech FloodFlash has launched a new iteration of its parametric commercial flood insurance designed to support risks and portfolios where the flood premium is between £20,000 and £1m annually.
Blog: Has the pandemic strengthened the case for brokers to seek PE deals?
Partnering with private equity may help brokers succeed during what looks set to be a complex, challenging, but potentially rewarding period, argues Andrew Backen, partner, Equistone Partners Europe.