The rate of solar panel fires is rising faster than the rate of installations, with fires up 133% over four years to the end of 2025, compared to a 52% increase in solar panel installations, according to research from business insurer QBE.

Admiral Group has reported turnover of £3.1bn for H1 2026, which was the same as in the same period last year. Customer numbers rose by 600,000 to reach 12 million, but profit before tax fell by £92m (18%) to £429m. The combined operating ratio deteriorated slightly, moving up from 77.7% to 78.5%.

Markel has developed a new e-trade broker portal for brokers – Markel Hub – which it says will make it faster and easier for brokers to trade with it. The hub gives brokers access to quotations, renewals, mid-term adjustments, client management and claims across Markel’s range of products.

Minster Law has acquired Arag Law’s personal injury business which includes both the team of legal professionals and its active case load. The deal will see Minster Law create a new office in Bristol, adding to its London office – opened earlier this year – and its headquarters in Wakefield.

Ikea has launched a home insurance proposition for its customers on the back of a collaboration with insurtech Urban Jungle. The move marks Ikea’s first foray into insurance. The monthly rolling policies will enable customers to cover their buildings and contents and adapt their cover for free on a 24/7 basis.

Data from Defaqto’s latest pet insurance pricing index shows that the average top-five prices for lifetime cover was down 1.8% in Q2. Premiums dropped by 2.3% in both May and June, although they then increased by 2.8% in June. Lifetime premiums are 6.4% lower than they were at the start of the year and 7.8% lower than this time last year.

The Managing General Agents’ Association has added Pinpoint UK to its stable, taking its membership to 500. Pinpoint UK is an appointed representative of Resolution Underwriting and is backed by AM Specialty Insurance Company's A-rated paper.

Motor insurance specialist Sabre Insurance Group plc has reported gross written premium of £116m for H1 2026. This is up from the £100.3m achieved in the same period last year. The carrier’s combined operating ratio deteriorated slightly to 85.6% (H1 2025 – 82.6%). Its profit after tax dipped slightly to £17.9m (H1 2025 – £18.9m).

Add-on specialist Alps has reported a 13% rise in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation for the 12 months to March and says it is on track to achieve gross written premium of £13m by 2028.

UK brokers can now quote Chubb’s professional indemnity product on commercial insurance e-trade platform Acturis. The insurer says this creates a third route to market, in addition to brokers using the carrier’s own electronic trading platform, Chubb Ignite or placing their business offline.

Data from the Association of British Insurers latest property insurance tracker shows that home insurers paid out £72m during the second quarter of this year and that the average subsidence claim hit a record of £20,000. The average settlement is up by £2,000 on the same quarter last year.

The Broker Investment Group has snapped up a 70% majority stake in broker Magnet Insurance, which is based in Newark and controls around £3.5m in gross written premium. Magnet was established in 2008 and has a focus on non-standard homes such as thatched, unoccupied, listed or distressed risks.

Re/insurance broker BMS has confirmed it will relocate its London headquarters to 30 St Mary Axe – The Gherkin – from its existing location at One America Square. The move takes effect from 1st September.

The Association of British Insurers says UK motor carriers paid out £3.2bn in Q2 2026. It said the record figure was up by 5% on the previous quarter and was 7% higher than the same quarter last year. The average claim was £4,900, up by 4% on the previous quarter.

Managing general agent Amiga Specialty has agreed to acquire Volante International Limited’s professional indemnity renewal portfolio. The deal follows Volante’s Lloyd’s syndicate 1699 going into run-off earlier this year and offers continuity for existing policyholders and placing brokers.

Research from LexisNexis shows that the average age of vehicles on UK roads is rising while their value is falling. It says the average age of a vehicle has risen from 10 years in H2 2023 to around 10 years and 5 months in H2 2025. Over the same timeframe, average values have dropped by almost £1,000 to approximately £10,000.