SME
Aviva to attack corporate risk market with regional underwriting
Aviva will attempt to snatch a 20% share of the corporate risks market by increasing underwriting authority at a regional level.
Underwriters' role will have diminished by 2022 according to report
The overwhelming majority of SME business (80%) will be traded automatically or direct in ten years’ time and there will be less emphasis on underwriters’ experience and judgment according to a report from the Chartered Insurance Institute’s (CII).
Free to compete
The advent of real-time pricing could free brokers’ hands and create a more level playing field
Products: La Playa tests its new research and development product in the lab
La Playa has produced a new product designed specifically for start-up, early stage and SME research and development businesses.
Products: NIG fills a gap in its property owners insurance range
NIG has launched Essential Property Owners (EPO) cover, an SME-focused version of its Premium Property Owners (PPO) product.
LV doubles insurance profits as COR improves
LV has reported a doubling in general insurance profits before tax to £70m in 2011 from £35m the previous year.
Corporate Underinsurance: Improving understanding of business interruption cover
Last year's riots brought the problem of a lack of business interruption cover to the fore. What are the solutions to underinsurance in this area?
RSA commercial chief threatens to exit unprofitable markets
RSA’s commercial chief has confirmed that he will pull out from product lines that are not working for the insurer as he continues his revamp of RSA’s commercial book.
Aviva’s McMillan bullish on insurer summit outcomes
David McMillan, chief executive officer UKGI at Aviva, has told Insurance Age he was as optimistic as he had ever been on reducing the cost of motor premiums following the outcome of last week’s insurance summit with the Prime Minister, David Cameron.
Axa Commercial lines opens revamped trading centre
Axa Commercial Lines has relaunched its Bolton branch as a national trading centre.
Business continuity plans likely to reduce premiums
New research has suggested that insurers are happy to provide premium discounts to companies that have business continuity plans in place.
Bollington reshuffles board
Bollington has restructured its board of directors and appointed Chris Patterson as group managing director.
Industry agrees to reduce premiums if government action cuts legal costs
The government has made a commitment to tackle the country’s growing compensation culture, reduce legal costs and cut health and safety red tape in return for the insurance industry’s assurance that it will pass any resultant savings on to consumers.
NIG appoints former Axa regional director to lead in Manchester
NIG has appointed Warren Bainbridge as area business development manager (ABDM) for its Manchester office with business development responsibility for the Greater Manchester region as well North Wales, Merseyside and Lancashire.
Groupama increases regional underwriting presence
Groupama has appointed three new regional underwriters to its development underwriting team.
Arc Legal in SME deal with Swinton
Arc Legal Assistance has signed up to provide Swinton Commercial with a legal expenses policy geared towards protecting SMEs.
NIG rolls out new property cover
NIG has launched Essential Property Owners’ (EPO) cover, an SME-focused version of its Premium Property Owners’ (PPO) product.
Insurance companies lagging behind in payments
UK firms improved their overall payment performances in the final quarter of 2011, but insurance companies did not follow this trend, figures from Experian have revealed.
2011 insolvency rate up slightly on 2010
Experian’s Insolvency Index has revealed the insolvency rate for 2011 was 1.1%, a slight increase compared to the rate for 2010, 1.03%.
Aviva survey shows rise in uninsured SMEs
Aviva’s twice yearly SME Pulse survey of 500 UK SMEs has revealed an increase in the number of these businesses trading without insurance from 8% in June to 20% in December 2011.
New head of sales at PHP
The Private Health Partnership (PHP) has appointed Andrew Middleton as head of sales.
Axa survey finds SMEs pessimistic about profits
A survey of SMEs by Axa Commercial Lines has revealed that while hopes for an increase in turnover were strong expectations of profitability and plans for recruitment were less positive.
Taxman punishes SMEs while indulging big business
The Forum of Private Business has accused HMRC of indulging in the “harassment and mistreatment” of small business while arranging “sweetheart deals” with large companies.
Cameron's attack on H&S culture challenged by legal sector
David Cameron has vowed to “wage war” against the health and safety culture in Britain.