SME
Coverzones shuts up shop after finance warning
Commercial insurance aggregator Coverzones has shut up shop less than two years after it commenced trading in June 2008.
Fortis extends self-employed offering
Fortis has revamped its liability product for the self-employed. Semploy Extra, which has been launched following a comprehensive review of its existing Semploy offering, will be available for new and existing clients from 31 May.
25% commercial SME products now bought online
According to Defaqto’s latest report into commercial SME Insurance, almost a quarter of products available in the office and retailers market are now available online.
Axa raids Hiscox and Beazley for financial lines push
Axa Insurance has made a number of specialist appointments to underpin its growth plans in the SME sector and its ambitions in the mid-corporate market.
New recruit at Markel to help grow accident and health business
Property and casualty insurer Markel International, has recruited Mike Bridgeman to head the development of accident and health business within its specialty division.
Axa targets £150m with mid-corporate launch
Axa Insurance is targeting £150m in new business by the end of 2012, after launching its mid-corporate offering to market.
Two thirds of businesses "concerned" over prospect of hung parliament
Nearly two thirds of businesses (65%) are “concerned” or “very concerned” about the potential impact of a hung parliament, according to the British Chambers of Commerce’s latest monthly business survey.
Open GI aggregator quotes top £2m
Insurance quotes generated by Open GI’s market-leading E-Aggregator solution have risen above two million per day.
SME Affinity: Learning to fly
The SME sector may well be worth £9bn, but for non-insurance brands it is proving a tough affinity market to crack. Alistair Hardie explains how micro-commercial can be made profitable for all.
Quinn planned to reduce UK broker panel before Regulator stepped in
Quinn Insurance wrote to brokers outlining plans to grow its UK business days before the insurance group was banned from writing any new business there, according to reports this morning.
Conservatives outline plans to stop Labour 'killing off' the recovery
The Conservative Party today reiterated its view that Labour’s plan for anyone earning over £20 000 to pay more tax - and employers more on all jobs paid over £5700 - will hit small businesses especially hard, and kill off the recovery.
Labour pledges to help entrepreneurs and SMEs with manifesto
The Labour Party yesterday pledged to help support small businesses and recognize the need to promote entrepreneurs with the publication of its manifesto.
Groupama and Riskstop in one stop risk management service for SMEs
Groupama Insurances has appointed risk management survey provider, Riskstop to provide their commercial policyholders with an end to end risk management solution - from initial risk management surveys through to ensuring the requirements identified are…
APC continues growth drive with ex-NIG hire
Ex-NIG senior underwriter, Chris Page, has been hired in the same role at APC.
The Post Europe Interview: Maurizio Castelli
Maurizio Castelli, Managing Director for Italy at XL Insurance answers Post Europe's questions.
Ace adds accident and health cover to online offering
Ace has launched five new accident and health products on its UK broker e-commerce platform.
NIG
NIG has appointed seven area underwriting managers.
E-Business 2010 - Conference News: Industry is dragging feet on commercial
SSP director Richard Crocker has accused the insurance industry of dragging its feet on the development of a sophisticated online channel for commercial lines.
E-Business 2010 - Conference News: Brokers "hold the aces" for SME online purchase
Brokers are well placed to take advantage of e-trading to win a greater share of business in the small to medium-sized enterprise sector, Brit distribution director Simon Cooter has claimed.
E-Business 2010: Opportunities abound
Talk about e-business in the insurance sector and most people think of personal lines sales and quotations, and perhaps a bit of supplier management. Talk about potential growth and the onus is very much on commercial lines, and the role of the broker.
Groupama claims SME first with launch
Groupama Insurances is offering tradesman cover for part-time workers at a reduced per capita rating through its Optima Trade Plus policy.
MMA to open three new branches as others downsize
MMA has outlined "phase two" of its commercial roll out with the establishment of three new regional trading centres.
View from the top: A makeover of the mind
The insurance industry has an image problem. If it were a celebrity, it would take more than just a nip and tuck and some botox to transform its wrinkled reputation with the paying public.
Canopius delivers profit of £55m for 2009
Canopius Group, the privately-owned Lloyd’s insurance underwriting business, has reported profit before tax of £55m up from £43m in 2008 and profit before tax excluding foreign exchange on non-monetary items of £74m.