Brunel Insurance Brokers is opening its ninth UK office, located in Cardiff, marking the company’s first permanent presence in Wales.

BIBA has announced changes to its main board with Carl Evans stepping down as chair of the Large Brokers’ Advisory Board to be replaced by Marsh’s Alistair Fraser.

The Ardonagh Group has acquired a majority stake in Hong Kong-based Apex Insurance. The group will operate Apex alongside PSC’s Hong Kong operations, PSC HK Insurance Group, strengthening Ardonagh’s footprint in the region.

Standards-setting body ACORD and insurance group Howden have announced that ACORD Standards for digital accounting and invoicing are live and operational in the UK retail insurance market. This marks the first time ACORD digital accounting standards are being used in the UK outside of the specialty and re/insurance market.

A survey by the Chartered Insurance Institute has found significant opposition to the Financial Conduct Authority’s proposal to remove the requirement for those working in the insurance profession to undertake a minimum of 15 hours training and development per year.

Insurance premiums for both motor and home continued their downward trajectory in Q2 2025, but the latest data from consultancy Pearson Ham suggests that a changing pace of movement as well as a more nuanced pricing environment could be on the horizon.

Specialist Risk Group has acquired Newcastle-based MGA Generation Underwriting from WF Risk Group. The business will become part of MX, SRG’s underwriting pillar, and will further expand its nationwide property, liability & fleet offer for brokers.

Bridgehaven Specialty UK and IWG have teamed up to provide a new contingent insurance product for defective workmanship of installation of heat pumps.

Affinity Brokers has become the first Scottish insurance broker to rebrand to Acrisure. It will continue to trade from its Blythswood Square office in Glasgow as Acrisure UK Broking.

Broking network Brokerslink has added Nova Insurance Consultant’s Conrad Wong to its board of directors. Wong is chief commercial officer at Nova, one of the largest independent insurance brokers in Hong Kong. He is also managing director of Beijing Nova Insurance, the broker’s operation in China.

MBC Insurance has rebranded as Clear Insurance Ireland as part of a broader strategy by the Clear Group to unify past and future Irish acquisitions under the Clear Insurance Ireland identity.

Digital distributor Starpeak has announced the renewal of its long-standing binder arrangement with Axa XL’s UK & Lloyd’s business, marking the tenth year of a partnership that has facilitated coverage for sports and leisure in the insurance sector.

Claims handlers are calling for automation to help fix the most frustrating parts of their jobs but they also feel anxiety about its impact on control of the claims process and their roles, according to a survey by software provider RDT.

Liberty Specialty Markets has appointed Niala Butt as head of casualty claims. Reporting to Nik Mahida, head of third-party claims, UK & MENA, Butt will be based in London.

Less than half (46%) of UK tenants currently have contents insurance in place, according to a new survey. The research reveals that the volume of private tenants with contents insurance dropped from 51% in 2023 to 46% today, despite previously being on an upwards trajectory.