SME
Editor's comment: Sales, sprinklers and statistics
Any reputable estate agent — excusing the potential oxymoron — will tell you the property market falls quiet in the run-up to Christmas, as potential vendors focus on the festivities ahead. Not so in the insurance market, with an unexpected end-of-year…
Legal expenses: Survival of the fittest
Legal expenses insurers must adapt their models quickly to survive the government’s reforms — or risk extinction.
In conversation with RSA: distinguishing from rivals in SME commercial
The SME commercial market remains one of the most highly competitive in the UK insurance space.
Interview - David McMillan: Bullish about the business
Chief executive of Aviva UKGI, David McMillan is convinced the insurer has turned a corner and is on the path to greater profitability and growth
Zurich hits Allianz for SME underwriter
Zurich’s has appointed Allianz’s SME underwriter manager Russell Corbould-Warren to the newly created role of head of SME underwriting.
Market moves: Insurers lead the recruitment charge
With the final quarter of the year kicking off this week insurers were the most active recruiters with a raft of hires and promotions. XL Insurance added three new members of staff to its burgeoning team in Europe, while a number of other players seized…
BIS 2011: Underwriting no longer the preserve of Oxbridge grads
The future of underwriting rests in the hands of graduates with strong numeracy skills and business understanding, who are willing to embrace specialist areas of the industry.
Event insurance: Dancing in the street
Next year could be huge for the events industry, with the Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympics taking place. With a host of celebrations occurring, can the events insurance sector capitalise?
European contract law poll result
Does the European insurance market need an optional contract law?
Marsh to assist SMEs managing trade credit
Marsh has said it has enhanced its Cover Credit service to assist small to medium enterprises to manage trade credit risk.
Groupama appoints former Axa manager to new role
Groupama has today announced the appointment of former Axa account manager Louise Colledge, in a role overseeing the firm’s SME and commercial motor underwriting team in Manchester.
MYI CEO targets more acquisitions after sealing double deal in a week
McLarens Young International has underlined a period of rapid global expansion with the acquisition of a US-based SME claims adjusting firm, just days after announcing its commitment to the aviation sector.
Interview - Matthew Reed: The challenge is everything
With insurance as his third career, Matthew Reed, Axa Commercial’s managing director of intermediary and direct, has risen rapidly up the ranks. Amy Ellis finds out how previous experiences have invested him with the determination to turn the insurer…
Market moves: Bucking the trend for UK employment
With September in full swing, announcements of moves around the market are arriving thick and fast. After the dearth of recruitment news in August, disciplines across the industry spectrum appear busy luring expertise from competitors, promoting from…
Mooted HSBC GI sale a sign of the times
HSBC’s mooted plan to sell its general insurance arm is part of a growing trend of banks “retrenching”, according to an analyst.
Questgates: UK corporates clamp down on fraud
Loss adjuster Questgates has witnessed an increase in high street businesses asking for help in determining if claims made by employees and clients are fraudulent.
Brokers witness unprecedented surge in riot-related demands for cover
Property insurance enquiries from businesses have soared by up to 200% in parts of London and Manchester following the riots, according to brokers based in some of the UK’s worst hit communities.
Towergate wins Confused contract
Towergate Insurance will become the sole provider of business insurance for price comparison site Confused.
PowerPlace launches D&O workshops
Commercial insurance portal PowerPlace is to run free educational workshops for brokers in directors’ and officers’ insurance.
Quick Quote ‘baffled’ by rival’s withdrawal
The battle for broker dominance in South Wales is expected to be cranked up a notch following the news that rival firms Quick Quote and Motaquote are both looking to expand operations in the region.
Disaster recovery - SME: Dealing with disaster
SMEs would flounder in the face of a disaster, with a large proportion going out of business completely. Edward Murray asks why, therefore, it remains so hard to get them to engage with disaster recovery planning.
Simply Business gives Moneysupermarket SME cover
Commercial insurance broker Simply Business is launching small business insurance on comparison site Moneysupermarket providing the cover under a white label deal embedded in the site.
News analysis - Axa Commercial: A simply complex strategy
With its UK strategy now signed off by the Axa group board, Amy Ellis speaks to Amanda Blanc and Matthew Reed about what commercial brokers can expect from the insurer.
Interview - Keith Stern: Raising the regional profile of Lloyd's
Tasked with rejuvenating Lloyd’s in the UK, as others look to international expansion, Keith Stern talks to Leigh Jackson about raising its regional profile and how he plans to overcome some common misconceptions.