Insurance provider Paymentshield has added managing general agent Arkel to its panel of landlord insurance providers. Arkel is backed by insurer AmTrust and Paymentshield said its addition to the panel would strengthen its ability to cater for landlords operating as limited companies as well as those renting to students.

Technology provider Acturis has added Markel’s UK management liability package to its platform. Markel said the move was part of its growth strategy to make more products available in electronically traded channels.

Pen Underwriting has launched a UK mid-market professional indemnity proposition that extends its existing footprint in the SME sector. The managing general agent said capacity for the mid-market offering came from a panel of A-rated insurers.

Ahead of the abolition of no-fault evictions due to come into force at the beginning of May, Alps has updated its landlord legal expenses and rent protection product. Alps said the implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 would create a more demanding legal and regulatory environment for landlords.

VIPR Solutions has agreed a multi-year deal with Aon that will see the technology firm automate and enhance delegated authority operations across Aon's global reinsurance platform. VIPR said the deal meant it was now working with four of the world's top ten re/insurance brokers by revenue.

Pet insurance managing general agent Tedaisy Insurance has teamed up with technology firm Wisentic Pets to redefine its claims processes. The Salisbury-based MGA said the collaboration with the Swedish pet claims specialist would streamline and automate workflows and communications across its claims function.

Broker management and policy administration platform BrokerCentral has teamed up with Applied Systems Europe and adopted its Applied Rating Hub to give users access to a panel of insurer and managing general agent personal lines schemes available via full-cycle EDI trading.

Premium finance provider PremFina said it grew its broker network by a third during 2025 and that it started 2026 with £1.1bn in contracted volumes. It said it was on target to hit £1.9bn by 2027. At is current growth rate, PremFina said it would achieve its targeted compound annual growth rate of 85% between 2024 and 2027.

Hardings Insurance Brokers has opened its doors for business as an independent Leeds-based commercial broker. Tom Butler and Martin Billington, who have more than 50 years of combined insurance industry experience, established the business. They previously worked together at Schofield Insurance, which was sold to Ardonagh in 2021.

Specialist motor insurer ERS has launched a new top-end personal lines proposition called Private Client Ultimate that will sit alongside its existing Prestige motor offering. Private Client Ultimate is aimed at high net worth clients with complex motor insurance needs. It provides cover for single vehicles valued at £350,000 and collections valued at £500,000.

Allianz Commercial has struck a deal with Reel Media that will see the managing general agent manage its entertainment underwriting business. Reel Media is a wholly owned subsidiary of Paragon Insurance Holdings. Cover will continue to be written on AA rated paper from Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE.

Aviva plc has reported a group operating profit of £2.2bn for 2025, which is up by 25% on the £1.8bn posted the previous year. It said this included a £174m contribution from Direct Line, which Aviva acquired last year.

Admiral Group plc achieved a profit before tax of £958m in 2025, up by 16% on the previous year. Its group combined ratio was 80.1% for the year having deteriorated by 3.2 percentage points on the 76.9% achieved in 2024.

Motor insurance pricing nudged down by 0.1% in the three months to January 2026, according to data from Consumer Intelligence. It said this meant annual premiums had fallen by 3.3% on an annual basis, down from the 9.1% annual deflation recorded three months earlier.

Data from pricing consultancy Pearson Ham shows that van insurance premiums are down by 14% in the past year and are approximately 25% down from their peak in October 2024. However, Pearson Ham said pricing strategies employed by providers over the past 12 months varied significantly with the range of rate reductions over the year ranging from 7% to 34%.

Consumer watchdog Which? has called on the Financial Conduct Authority to examine if insurers are being slow to agree liability and settle storm damage claims. Since October, Which? said there had been six named storms and that it was concerned with how some insurers were approaching cover for storms and handling associated claims.