UK market News

Amazon to Offer Insurance to Small and Medium-Sized UK Businesses: Broker

Amazon.com Inc is to start offering insurance to small and medium-sized UK business customers, the technology giant’s first foray into business insurance in the country, broker Superscript said on Monday. Members of Amazon’s Business Prime program will be able to …

UK Insurers Cautiously Willing to Underwrite Fire Safety Risks for High-Rise Recladding Projects: Survey

Insurers have revealed a cautious willingness to underwrite fire safety risks on new projects to remove defective cladding from high rise buildings. Around two-thirds of respondents to a survey by the International Underwriting Association (IUA) stated they would provide a …

Workers in London’s Financial Services Industry Are Returning to Their Desks in Droves

On the lower floors of HSBC Holdings Plc’s Canary Wharf headquarters, the desks are filling up. Traders, salespeople and close support staff not currently in the office have been told they are expected to be at their workstations on the …

Marshmallow, Black-Founded Insurtech, Is Now a Unicorn

Digital motor insurer Marshmallow has raised $85 million from investors, valuing it at more than $1.25 billion and making it one of the first British Black-founded unicorns, the company said on Wednesday. The early-stage funding round was backed by venture …

UK Insurers Warned They Could Face Regulatory Action Over Car, Home Policies

LONDON – Insurers in Britain that are not ready to implement tougher “value for money” rules on car and home policies could face disciplinary action, the Financial Conduct Authority said on Wednesday. The FCA found in May that loyal customers …

London Is Struggling to Lure Back Workers, Says CEO of Legal & General

The head of one of the UK’s largest insurers and investors warned that the City of London is struggling far more than the country’s other office districts in luring workers back to their desks. Since lockdown restrictions were eased, other …

Chronic Scarcity of UK Workers Blamed on COVID and, of Course, Brexit

On the outskirts of the Scottish town of Kirkcaldy is a crop of new houses on their way to completion. There are two large banners pinned to the perimeter fence with a mobile phone number: “Bricklayers Required.” Rather than prices …

British On-Demand Drone Insurer Flock Raises $17 Million in Funding

British drone insurer Flock has raised $17 million from investors in early-stage funding led by venture investor Chamath Palihapitiya’s Social Capital, Flock said on Thursday. Flock started out insuring commercial drones, and added car and van fleets last year. It …

London Staff Want Big Pay Raises Before Returning to Their Desks Full-Time: Survey

London office workers want an average pay rise equivalent to the cost of some annual railway season tickets to return to their desks full-time after the pandemic, according to a survey. With COVID-19 restrictions leaving many offices empty, white-collar staff …

UK’s Q2 Auto Insurance Premiums Drop to Lowest Level Since Early 2016: Survey

The cost of a comprehensive car insurance policy in Britain fell 12% in the second quarter to its lowest level since early 2016 due to COVID-19 lockdowns, although it might rebound to pre-pandemic levels as restrictions ease, a survey showed …