Analysis from Defaqto shows that the travel insurance market did not see a spike in premiums in response to the escalation of the Middle East crisis, although it says prices have fluctuated since the beginning of the year.

Addept Insurance Services has signed a multi-million five-year capacity deal with Irwell Insurance Company, which has a B++ (Good) rating from AM Best. The additional capacity will support further growth in Addept’s legal expenses insurance portfolio, which Irwell has provided support for since it launched in 2025.

The Chartered Insurance Institute has appointed eight industry leaders to its newly created Professional Communities Advisory Board. It will operate in tandem with the CII’s specialist advisory groups in broking, claims and underwriting and seeks to ensure the professional body’s outputs meet the needs of its members.

Managing general agent Prestige Underwriting says that two in five (41.4%) of escape
of water claims exceed £20,000 with more than one in five (22.4%) costing more than £50,000. It says the figures come from analysis of data from its claims on unoccupied and holiday home policies this year.

Managing general agent Helix Underwriting has penned a multi-year agreement to use CyberCube’s account manager solution, which provides users with access to cyber risk analytics. Helix says the deal gives its underwriters more data on potential exposures, threat-led scenarios and possible risk accumulations.

Chubb will operate as the lead underwriter in a new Lloyd’s market consortium that includes Lloyd’s syndicates and specialist market partners. It has been established to offer additional marine war risk insurance capacity for vessels and cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Aviva will rebrand its Lloyd’s platform Probitas 1492 to Aviva Syndicates. The new branding will be in place by the end of September and will act as a significant step in the business’s integration into Aviva’s global corporate and specialty division.

Broker Verlingue has established a specialist practice to provide for the bespoke needs of historic and country houses as well as estates. It seeks to offer specialist insurance, risk management and employee benefits support to clients.

Supermarket Morrisons has partnered with affinity insurance specialist Hood Group Ltd to launch pet and travel insurance products that are available from the retailer’s website. The move marks Morrisons’ first step into financial services.

Aviva has developed a digitally traded contractors combined product that is available on Acturis and will shortly be launched on the insurer’s own Fast Trade platform. Aviva says the product is aimed at self-employed contractors as well as and more established small to mid-sized businesses in the construction sector.

The Chartered Insurance Institute has published a new guide – Data Privacy for Customers in Vulnerable Circumstances – to help insurers manage the data they hold on vulnerable customers and remain compliant with UK data protection requirements and the Financial Conduct Authority’s Consumer Duty.

The Broker Investment Group has increased its stake in Scott Blain Insurance Consultants Limited to 74%. The deal builds on a partnership that began in 2015 when TBIG took a minority stake in the Barnet-based broker.

Addept Insurance Services has launched a remote dimension to its home emergency proposition for homeowners and landlords. Home Emergency Rescue and Let Emergency Rescue provide policyholders with a video call to an engineer to resolve, where possible, emergency issues without the need for a tradesperson to attend in person.

Axa XL has agreed a partnership with digital specialist Samsara to use its Connected Operations platform. The carrier says the platform will provide data on UK fleet risks ranging from vehicle status to driver behaviour. Axa XL says the collaboration will enable it to be more proactive and targeted in delivering risk management support.

QuestGates has developed its Vector division, which handles lower complexity property claims and provides development training for emerging talent, to include a new loss adjusting pathway. Vector was initially launched 18 months ago and operates as a fully functioning claims team rather than a traditional training scheme.

Tide Insurance, which is a managing general agent focused on yacht insurance, has launched Compass, which provides policyholders with policy documentation, risk management tools and real-time insights via their mobile devices.