Analysis
Analysis: Climate change - Getting to grips with global warming
Insurers have been forced into the front line of the fight to stop global warming and climate change and they are beginning to feel uncomfortable and exposed. While several major insurers have issued bold commitments to join the fight to halt global…
Top 100 UK Insurers 2019
The 100 largest UK-regulated insurers, ranked by non-life gross premium written, reported a combined underwriting profit in 2018, compared to a loss in 2017. Catherine Thomas, senior director of analytics in London at AM Best, explains how they achieved…
Special report: The future of claims in commercial broking
To find out what brokers think of commercial claims handling Post and Aviva carried out some extensive research. Sam Barrett reflects on results that highlight insurers have some way to go to meet their expectations.
Analysis: How well have insurers and brokers adapted to providing access to insurance for people with disabilities?
With the introduction of the Equality Act, it became illegal for insurers to price disabled customers’ premiums on any factors that do not directly impact on the risk
Analysis: Rash of cancelled cover highlights the role of the broker
A rise in the volume of UK businesses that have cancelled at least one type of insurance cover over the past few years has served to highlight the importance of the broker’s role in the insurance buying process
Analysis: Trampoline parks – on an upward trajectory for insurance?
To borrow an analogy from Forrest Gump’s mother, writing about insurance can be like a box of chocolates – you never know what you’re gonna get. On the topic of trampolines, an assortment of ‘no comments’ left a rather nasty taste
Penny Black's Social World: September 2019
Memory Walk, dazzling dress up and the Silver Line cycle
Top 30 European Insurers 2019: Insurers see 4.4% growth
Gross written premium reported by the 30 largest European insurers in 2018 was 4.4% higher than the aggregated figure for the previous year but those writing significant business outside of the eurozone have seen foreign exchange rate movements having an…
Special Report: The future of personal lines insurance
Retail insurance customers are changing, with a growing opinion that those born after 2000 will have very different expectations than those over twice their age because they are digital natives. Sam Barrett explores what the industry needs to do to…
Spotlight: SME market: Where do the biggest opportunities lie for brokers in the SME market?
There seems to be a significant number of drivers for change in the SME market, which begs the question how the relationship between brokers and these clients will change. Edward Murray looks at the opportunities available for intermediaries to remain as…
Analysis: Protecting businesses against political risks
The political risk map of Europe is being changed by a toxic combination of uncertainty — both political and economic, populism, geopolitical changes, political violence and technological advances
Insurtech 100: May - July 2019 quarterly update
Hippo, Lemonade and Zego are just three of the start-ups that have been in the news recently. Matt Connolly, founder and CEO of Tällt Ventures, reflects on a what has been happening for the Insurtech 100 since the list was published in May.
Analysis: Investing in a sustainable future
European governments and a wide range of international governmental and non-governmental organisations are looking to big institutional investors to back the development of a sustainable, greener infrastructure. Insurers and pensions funds are top of…
Penny Black's Social World: August 2019
British Insurance Awards, Dive In for diversity and funds from filming
Analysis: Discount rate decision casts a shadow over personal injury settlements
The personal injury discount rate will be set at minus 0.25% from 5 August providing certainty for insurers and claimants alike, but uncertainty created by the Ministry of Justice review behind the new rate could have left claimants – as well as insurers…
Analysis: Impact of smart home technology on escape of water claims
In 2018 insurers dealt with 228,000 escape of water claims, at a cost of £617m – an increase from £529m paid out five years ago, according to statistics from the Association of British Insurers. With the rising cost of claims, can technology help reduce…
Analysis: Mitigating the risk of sexual harassment in the workplace
Over the past two years, awareness of how prevalent sexual harassment is in the workplace has reached perhaps unprecedented heights.
Analysis: SME risk management: Loss of appetite
Small and medium-sized enterprises are facing a plethora of challenges. So how are insurers helping this sector?
Penny Black's Social World: July 2019
Festival of Football, charity communities and clean air commitments
Analysis: The future of pricing - Tightening the noose
The dual pricing noose is slowly tightening around the insurance industry’s neck. Its laudable attempts to escape from the regulatory hangman seem increasingly futile as the pressure is mounting on the Financial Conduct Authority to take action.
Analysis: The future of pricing – Data and technology
Insurers are coming under increasing pressure to develop new ways of pricing. But, while data and technology hold the key, insurers face some significant challenges as they move to this brave new world.
Analysis: The road to inclusion
Most people in the industry would probably describe themselves as open-minded, abhorring any kind of discrimination and supportive of more diversity in the workplace. The enthusiasm for change from all quarters is testament to that
Analysis: Charity & CSR: Protect and survive
The insurance sector is one of the mainstays of the UK economy, contributing nearly £30bn and employing more than 300,000 people. Its sheer size and financial strength gives the industry the opportunity to do good for the people who rely on it
Analysis: Diversity and Inclusion: A marked shift in commitment
Diversity and inclusion have moved from buzzwords to being embraced by the insurance industry for all the right reasons but is it doing enough?