SME
Liberty pushes into UK mid corporate market
Liberty Mutual Insurance Europe (LMIE), is set to expand its presence in the mid to large UK SME sector.
Chartis launches commercial app for brokers
Chartis has launched a web app for two of its SME products to allow brokers to obtain speculative or last minute quotes on the move.
Aviva's UK GI business sees boost in premium and profit
After four quarters of consecutive growth, UK GI net written premiums increased 5% to £4bn (2009: £3.86bn) and operating profit for UK GI and health also rose 8% to £579m (2009: £535m).
News analysis - numbers: rival brands NIG's new pricing policy 'suicidal'
"We are certainly looking to grow our book of business and that means making it clear that we have an appetite"
Reportage - SME: SMEs under the regulatory spotlight
The risks that the SME sector faces on a daily basis have increased significantly over the past 10 years. Rising regulation and an increasingly litigious society mean that such businesses are facing an ever-growing rate of claims often not covered by the…
Reportage - SME: a blossoming romance
The SME love affair has been flourishing for a while, but what does the term actually mean? With nearly all UK enterprises falling into this category, Liz McMahon explores the sector's diverse needs.
Reportage - SME: Debate: Is online trading the only way forward?
Graeme Newman and James Sharp argue the pros and cons of online trading.
Market moves: Recruitment drive shows positive outlook
The actions of the insurance industry seem to indicate it is refreshingly optimistic about the prospects for UK plc. Despite the phrase 'double-dip' re-entering the popular consciousness, insurance has stormed ahead with determination to grow its way to…
APC aims to double SME book with new underwriting model
APC has implemented a new area rating underwriting strategy for the lower crime level areas throughout the UK and Northern Ireland with the aim of doubling its SME business in five years.
LV experiences rapid growth and profit hike but takes £30m hit in December
LV experienced accelerated growth in 2010, increasing premiums by 45% to £1.18bn, but recorded an underwriting loss of £43m.
E-trading could kill off manual micro SME by 2013
All micro small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) business will be transacted online by 2013, according to Darren Rowe, sales manager at Powerplace.
NIG's rates guarantee is suicidal according to Groupama CEO
Groupama Insurances CEO, François-Xavier Boisseau, has fired a broadside at NIG and its controversial ‘guarantee to beat’ rate offer to brokers, describing the move as suicidal.
Policyfast in Aviva homework cover deal
Policyfast has announced an exclusive deal with Aviva to provide the insurer’s homework cover electronically to the broker market for the first time.
Federation of Small Businesses welcomes bank lending announcement
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has welcomed the news that the banking sector has agreed to increase lending to small businesses.
Banks commit to 15% increase in lending to SMEs
The Government has welcomed a commitment by the UK's biggest banks on lending expectations and capacity which will focus on small to medium-sized enterprises (SME).
Health news: Pruhealth seeks to broaden its range in wake of SLH aquisition
Pruhealth is targeting general insurance brokers with a range of new healthcare plans following the acquisition of Standard Life Health (SLH) in August last year.
E-commerce: Simply Business reveals ambitious GWP growth plans
Simply Business, has unveiled a gross written premium target of £100m by the end of 2012, up from £41m last year.
E-commerce: Policyfast and RSA come to non-EDI agreement
Online wholesaler Policyfast has reached an agreement with RSA to provide online business car and van policies to brokers.
Norgrove makes swift exit from Travelers Ireland
Less than five months after joining from RSA, Travelers Ireland vice president, Ken Norgrove, has resigned to take up a senior post within Zurich's Irish operation, Insurance Age understands.
E-commerce: Commercial market struggles to meet fraud prevention demand
As the capacity for online small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) trading increases, the commercial insurance market continues to lag behind in fraud prevention, according to APC underwriting director, Ian Russell.
Director's and Officer's: A D&O deluge
Emmanuel Kenning takes an overview of the D&O sector and asks where the market will go next after a host of developments in 2010.
Simply Business targets £100m GWP
Simply Business, the online broker for small to medium sized enterprise business, has unveiled a gross written premium target of £100m by the end of 2012, up from £41m last year.
1 Answer becomes first network to sign up to Powerplace
Personal lines network, 1 Answer, has pushed into the commercial arena by joining Powerplace.
Editor's comment - January 2011
Here we go again. Another year, another set of woes. The economy has only improved slightly, premium rates still show no sign of real hardening and insurers still seem hell bent on self-sacrifice in the name of growth. I feel for you brokers, I really do…