Alan Tate-Smith has launched AMB Rural and Commercial Ltd. The independent broker is based in Honiton, Devon and seeks to support clients across the South West and beyond. It will focus on offering farm and estate insurance, agricultural contracting cover, commercial combined policies, property owners’ insurance and specialist cover for diversified rural enterprises.

The International Underwriting Association has launched an online hub to support its IUA Futures programme and ensure recent entrants into the market have convenient access to all the networking, training and development events scheduled by the association.

The government has published plans to improve the Financial Ombudsman Service’s ability to operate as a swift and impartial complaints body and to align its operations more closely with the Financial Conduct Authority.

SiriusPoint has restructured into business into four units – Global P&C Programmes, Global Reinsurance, Global Accident & Health and a London Market Specialty division, which includes Lloyd’s. The Global P&C Programmes division is the new combined unit for its North America and International Programmes businesses.

Cargo and supply chain risk insurance provider Parsyl has launched a chat-based risk submission facility for brokers called Chauncey for Brokers. The proposition is built on the technology that Parsyl has been using to power its own underwriting operations and which it said had cut submission times by 70%.

FTI Consulting has published a report that questions whether the UK and Ireland will retain its position as the leading geographical market for insurance M&A activity in the face of competition from other European centres. In 2025, the UK and Ireland recorded 219 deals according to FTI Consulting’s report, 2025 European Insurance M&A Barometer: Navigating the Changing Shape of European M&A. This was down by 23% on the number of deals recorded in the previous year.

ARAG has teamed up with The Purpose Coalition to launch a campaign called Insuring Justice. The aim is to educate people and small businesses about the role insurance can play in providing access to legal support and advice on everything from housing and employment issues to consumer rights and family matters.

Allianz UK identified fraudulent claims totalling almost £174m in 2025, up by more than 10% on the £157m it sniffed out the previous year. During 2025, the carrier recorded an 84% increase in staged accidents, in which two vehicles crash into each other on purpose. It also noted a 61% rise in contrived accidents, where a fraudster crashes into an innocent party and then fabricates damage or injury.

Broker TL Dallas has opened a new office in Harrogate, from which Caroline Pullich, group head of private clients at TL Dallas, will lead the firm’s high-net-worth offering. James Bright, corporate account executive at TL Dallas will focus on supporting commercial clients in the surrounding local market.

Insurance centred investment firm Sodalis Capital has launched London-based wholesale broker Brecon Specialty Ltd. The 14-strong team will be led by former Howden Broking managing director David Rees and will focus on cyber and technology E&O business.

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.