Q&A
Biba 2025 Countdown: Pen Underwriting’s Sarah Breslin
With just a day to go until the Biba conference Sarah Breslin, managing director for commercial UK & Ireland at Pen Underwriting, is promising a big, bold and colourful stand from the MGA, with a hint of Minecraft as she relishes the chance to talk about all Pen can offer and do business.
Biba 2025 Countdown: LexisNexis Risk Solutions’ Tony Pinch
Tony Pinch, head of sales, broker and MGA, UK and Ireland at LexisNexis Risk Solutions suggests a New Era of broking will feature more data enrichment; passes down some tips from his 15 years experience attending the event; and recommends delegates might…
Biba 2025 Countdown: Earnix UK’s Andrew How
As Biba 2025 approaches, Earnix UK Insurance director Andrew How recommends attendees keep an open mind, suggests how regional brokers can compete effectively in the New Era and is looking forward to tasting the delights of a local tap room.
Biba 2025 Countdown: Sedgwick’s Joseph Noel
With the Biba Conference getting ever closer, Joseph Noel, managing director for commercial claims services at Sedgwick, explains the importance of risk management, the excitement over the firm’s new branding and why you might find him at Affleck’s…
Biba 2025 Countdown: Premium Credit’s Owen Thomas
Ahead of the annual event, Owen Thomas, chief sales officer at Premium Credit, underlines the importance of growing compliantly in uncertain economic times, recommends a reliable pit stop to refuel, and nominates Arch’s Mike Bottle as good football…
Biba 2025 Countdown: Broker Insights’ Peter Scott
With exactly a week to go until the conference, Peter Scott, CEO of Broker Insights, advocates meaningful conversations, describes Biba as ‘a marathon, not a sprint,’ and suggests delegates take a moment to reflect at the Alan Turing Memorial in…
Biba 2025 Countdown: Aurora’s Tom Willmore
With the 2025 British Insurance Brokers’ Association conference only just over a week away Tom Willmore, broker distribution lead at Aurora, offers up offers useful tips to keep delegates moving and well fed with pies, as well as why the mantra ‘quality…
Biba 2025 Countdown: Collinson Insurance’s Jo Shorthouse
Collinson Insurance’s business development lead Jo Shorthouse doubles up on comfy shoes, nominates Ecclesiastical’s Richard Coleman as insurance’s answer to Gareth Southgate, and believes brokers should embrace the opportunities afforded by AI.
Biba 2025 Countdown: Granite’s Alistair Rose
Alistair Rose, managing director of Granite Underwriting, talks up the merchandise on its stand, recommends Manchester Art Gallery as a calm place to reflect on the Biba buzz, and highlights an emergency snack stash as essential to get through the two…
Biba Countdown 2025: SSP Broker’s Martyn Mathews
With the latest Biba conference soon upon us, Martyn Mathews, MD of SSP Broker, highlights the importance of socks, teases a revised sneak peek of its proposition, and explains how he could give speaker Gareth Southgate a run for his money as manager of…
Biba 2025 Countdown: Coalition’s Tom Draper
Coalition UK managing director Tom Draper looks forward to filling an extra bag with Biba swag and giveaways; explains why Oasis’ Stand By Me sums up the event perfectly; and explains how it will be supporting brokers with relevant, real-world content on…
Biba 2025 Countdown: Applied Systems’ Tom Needs
Tom Needs, CEO of Applied Systems, is looking forward to a New Era of more efficient, responsive, and customer-centric broking; reckons Arsène Wenger would make a good insurance leader; and expects to end the event with a hoarse throat.
Biba 2025 Countdown: Beazley’s Sam Franks
Sam Franks, country manager and head of partner engagement for the UK & Ireland at Beazley, promises plenty of pink and underwriters on its stand; offers advice about how brokers can differentiate themselves from their peers in the market; and looks…
Biba 2025 countdown: Arch Insurance UK’s Janine Starkie
Janine Starkie, regional manager for the North and Scotland at Arch Insurance UK teases a special guest for its event at the Exhibition Bar; reveals she has snagged Oasis tickets; and looks forward to promoting its ‘hub-and-spoke’ model that ensures…
Biba 2025 Countdown: Bridgehaven’s Paul Jewell
Paul Jewell, CEO of Bridgehaven hails Mike Keating’s ability to not park the bus; looks forward to discussing the exciting opportunities presented by alternative capacity providers; and recommends delegates visit Manchester’s answer to Hogwarts.
Biba 2025 Countdown: Markel’s Jo Sykes
Jo Sykes, divisional director, broker & ATE UK at Markel, promises a partnership with an Olympic champion; expects to see another uptick in attendance at its annual hospitality event; and looks forward to putting her sore feet up and checking the iPad…
Biba 2025 Countdown: Flood Re’s Kelly Ostler-Coyle
Kelly Ostler-Coyle, head of communications and stakeholder engagement, Flood Re looks forward to sharing information about its Chelsea Flower Show medal-winning Flood Resilient Garden, handing out Freddy the Flood Re ducks, and expects Oasis sound…
Biba 2025 Countdown: Commercial Express’ Duncan Pritchard
In a month’s time it will be day two of the 2025 British Insurance Brokers’ Association Conference. As part of Insurance Age's countdown to the event Duncan Pritchard, managing director of Commercial Express, shares his insights.
Biba 2025 Countdown: QBE’s Stacey Flannery
With only one month to go until the Biba 2025 conference, Stacey Flannery, head of trading (Manchester) at QBE, kicks off Insurance Age’s countdown series.
Scrapping minimum training hours – Q&A with Crescens George, CEO of Wiser Academy
Last month, the Financial Conduct Authority proposed scrapping the specified minimum hours of training and development required for insurance employees.
Meet the MGA: MX Underwriting
Ian Cook, managing director at MX Underwriting, explains why he believes MGAs are not suffering a capacity crunch, and outlines plans to write in excess of £200m GWP in 2025 and add to MX’s product range and capability.