Intense competition continues to impact the pet insurance market which has seen premiums for lifetime pet cover fall by 14% over the past 12 months. The figures from Defaqto’s latest pet insurance pricing index record an average of the top five quoted prices.

Analysis from consultancy MarshBerry shows that there were only two new insurance distribution deals in October, the lowest figure since 2017. A total of 62 announced deals in the year to date is 29% down on the 87 transactions recorded the previous year, which was itself significantly slower than previous years.

The British Insurance Brokers’ Association and Intact Insurance have launched a start-up hub for brokers to provide practical guidance, insight and resources to those looking to establish and grow their own brokerage. The aim is to support new growth in a market that has seen significant consolidation in recent years.

Accuro Underwriting has developed a new broker portal through which intermediaries can access its Aviva-backed care combined product. Accuro runs delegated insurance schemes for care homes and has focused on this market for more than 20 years.

Compare the Market has launched a temporary car insurance proposition enabling customers to submit quotes to a panel of providers including Covertime, Safely Insured, Zixty, Allianz, First Underwriting, KGM and Somerset Bridge.

Members of the Association of British Insurers received 13,000 new domestic subsidence claims from July to September this year, up by 62.5% on the 8,000 claims received in Q3 last year. Average subsidence claims totalled £20,000 for the second quarter in a row.

Cupican Insurance Brokers has opened for business under the umbrella of the Coversure network. Also known has Coversure Stevenage the firm has a focus on commercial healthcare insurances including medical malpractice, professional indemnity, employers' liability, public liability, product liability, business interruption, commercial legal expenses and commercial combined.

Managing general agent rrelentless has agreed partnerships with cyber security firm LevelBlue and security awareness training specialist Pistachio to boost the risk management services it offers policyholders.

Investec Premium Finance, a division of Investec Bank Plc, is now available via the Acturis trading platform and will offer commercial lines brokers access to premium finance solutions for their business clients. Investec Premium Finance was launched in 2022.

Graphco Ltd, which is the holding company of Uris Group Limited, has acquired distribution and administration business Cavere Group Ltd, which is the parent firm of Cavere Ltd and coverbaloo Ltd.

Axa Insurance UK has launched an emerging leaders programme to support leaders from partner businesses that work with the carrier’s delegated authority division. The first three-day event, hosted at Woodlands Park Hotel in Cobham, comprised professional learning and networking opportunities.

Transport Scotland’s Road Safety Framework Fund is financing a project led by the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety called The Young Driver Insurance Safety Framework. It will explore how motor insurance can help reduce crashes involving young drivers and their passengers.

UK customers can now secure household insurance cover for domestic humanoid robots through Adrian Flux’s home insurance offering, which is underwritten by Tokio Marine HCC International, which is part of the Tokio Marine HCC group of companies.

Direct Line for Business, which is part of the Aviva group, has released figures from a freedom of information request to UK police forces that show there were more than 26,000 tool thefts in 2025.

Prestige Insurance Holdings is on the hunt for investment opportunities in independent brokers and is offering options ranging from full acquisitions to phased transitions by way of partial investment to firms in Great Britain, Northern Ireland and Ireland.

Ageas has launched a plugin with ChatGPT that enables customers to get a quote from its esure brand. ChatGPT guides customers through a series of questions and then generates a quote. People can then click though to the esure website to tailor their policy, access additional policy options and complete the purchase.