This week in Post: Claims, costs and closures

In addition to making me feel like John McClane, it was a fascinating insight and a great reminder of the level of expertise that insurers hold on their clients’ risks.

Also climbing this week was the cost of both motor premiums and motor claims. The Association of British Insurers announced that last year motor claims costs hit their highest ever level, while the British Insurance Brokers’ Association revealed that car and van drivers saw 10.7% and 9.1% increases in their premium costs last year respectively.

On the news front, Post revealed that NMU is set to close its Letchworth office in a restructure of its Southern region operations, in addition to revealing that Aviva had hired David Carey and Mark Campbell from Zurich and LV.

This week Post also examined how increasing number of medical insurers are including mental health as standard in their policies, while Weightmans partner Michael Ryley looked at how insurers can support mental health in the workplace.

In broker news, Aston Lark made its first acquisition since the merger, buying specialist broker Ingram Hawkins & Nock in a deal that will add £10m of premium to the group.

MCE Insurance announced it would cease writing business in the Republic of Ireland from next year as a result of a loss of passporting from Brexit, a move the firm described as an “incredibly disappointing and regressive decision”.

In addition, Graham Plaister, loss adjuster at Agrical, blogged on how the ’Beast from the East’ has affected the agricultural sector.  

With further snow expected this weekend, stay in and enjoy the read!

Will Kirkman, reporter
@PostWillK