SME
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…
Simply Business aims to extend SME reach with new hire
Online insurance broker Simply Business has hired Underwired Amaze to develop an electronic customer relationship marketing programme.
PMI insurers accused of broker bullying to protect claims data
Private medical insurers (PMI) have been accused of threatening to cut off brokers that “rock the boat” over the issue of claims data transparency.
Towergate: SME provision deal 'just the beginning'
Towergate Insurance has claimed its deal with Comparethemarket.com to provide insurance to small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) customers is "just the beginning" of its online SME strategy.
Power hour: Feeling the benefit?
It is hoped that a change in the Government's position regarding benefits may open up opportunities for PMI. This month's discussion covers the expansion of cash plans, the role of trade bodies and the normally taboo subject of claims data sharing. Liz…
Zurich restructures UK business
Zurich has announced changes to the organisational structure of its UK general insurance (UKGI) business in a bid to bolster its accountability to the market.
Bluefin's Elite in run-off to allow greater Platinum focus
Bluefin has announced it is putting its Elite underwriting facility for small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) business into run-off in favour of expanding its existing Platinum product range.
Product update: SMEs protected from insolvency
Trade credit insurance firm Atradius has launched a policy designed specifically to help protect small to medium-sized enterprises (SME) from unexpected insolvencies impacting their supply chain.
Power hour: Calling in the experts?
This month's debate, with live interaction from Twitter, ascertains what value MGAs bring to brokers' businesses and the wider market. Are they simply another mouth to feed or the specialists that insurers and brokers need to service a diverse client…