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This special award will be presented to an individual who has made a sustained and outstanding contribution to the success, image or operation of the UK general insurance broking industry.

Nominations are welcome but this award is decided by the chairman following consultation with the whole judging panel.

The shortlist will be formed by the winners of the following awards: The Digital Broker, Customer Service Award, Claims Team of the Year, Community/Small Broker of the Year, Deal of the Year, Both ESG Broker Champions, Marketing & Customer Engagement Award, Training Award, Schemes Broker of the Year, Personal Lines Broker of the Year, Commercial Lines Broker of the Year.

Open to anyone working in the UK insurance broking industry.

This special award will be presented to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution in the last 12 months, whether through the advancement of the organisation that employs them; or the wider broking industry.

The winner could be someone who: 

• Has led a sea change within a business through their strategic vision and/or a successful acquisition
• Helped the wider sector through their engagement with stakeholders including regulators and politicians to effect a notable change that benefits the broking industry's standing in the eyes of the public

The above may include but is not exclusively about engagement with the trade and national press.

Firms are able to nominate candidates they think fit the criteria.

The judging panel will determine the winner, which will be announced at the Awards ceremony.

This category is open to FCA-regulated general insurance brokers or independent intermediaries in commercial or personal lines who received authorisation within the last three years (on or after 1 June 2020).

The judges will be looking for a business that can demonstrate success in its short lifetime.

The business may not be significantly profitable or fulfilled its objectives to date, but will need to demonstrate a plan that evidences great future potential.

Open to any outsourcer or third-party service provider offering professional, advisory or technical service directly to the broking market. This could include Networks, compliance providers, education providers, premium finance houses, law firms, loss assessors, loss adjuster and software providers.

This award is designed to recognise broker partners and the successes of their clients. The judges will be looking for a partner that can demonstrate a combination of one or all of the following:

• Evidence a partner has responded innovatively to a demand/demands of the broker market.
• Evidence of consistent levels of service and customer satisfaction among broker customers.
• Evidence of enhanced business success through their relationship with the broking market.
• Testimonials from brokers will help validate an entry

Open to any teams within an FCA-regulated general insurance broker or independent intermediary operating in the UK general insurance market

The judges will be looking for evidence of a customer-focused claims handling and/or claims management service. Brokers that have worked in partnership with a claims specialist are eligible as well as brokers who have created or enhanced an in-house service.

The winning team will demonstrate a combination of some or all of the following:

• Evidence of staff engagement with claimants/business partners to keep them informed and up-to-date
• The delivery of great customer service such as through innovative use of supply chains and partnerships
• Regular thorough reviews of internal systems to the mutual benefit of the entrant and their customer
• Examples of a response to a single event/major issue/multiple claims that went beyond business-as-usual

The winner will be automatically considered for the overall Insurance Broker of the Year Award. 

Open to FCA registered brokers for whom over 50% of their business is commercial lines.

The judges will be looking for a broker that has excelled in the tough economic environment. This could manifest itself in levels of on-going customer service, growth, profitability, the introduction of a particular initiative or the addressing of a particular market need. The judges will look at the overall performance of the broker but will expect evidence in support of any claims made in regard to the performance of the business.

The winner will be automatically considered for the overall Insurance Broker of the Year Award. 

Open to any FCA-regulated general insurance broker or independent intermediary operating in the UK general insurance market.

The judges will be looking for excellent delivery and a continually improving level of customer service.

Entries must therefore give:

• Evidence of consistent levels of service and customer satisfaction, whether those customers are in business-to-business or business-to-consumer relationships
• Evidence a business has responded innovatively to the changing demands of the market backed by clear standards and validated monitoring of performance
• Proof of this impact on overall business including retention levels

The winner will be automatically considered for the overall Insurance Broker of the Year Award.

Open to FCA registered brokers with less than £2m GWP and/or five members of staff

The judges will be looking for a broker that whilst small in size is perfectly formed and successful in the local community in which it operates. 

This could manifest itself in high levels of on-going customer service, growth, profitability, introduction of a particular community initiative or the addressing of a particular market need.

The judges will look at the overall performance of the broker but will expect evidence in support of any claims made in regards to the performance of the business. 

The winner will automatically be entered into the Insurance Broker of the Year category. Open exclusively to FCA-regulated general insurance brokers or independent intermediaries operating in the UK general insurance market.

The winner will be automatically considered for the overall Insurance Broker of the Year Award.

This award is designed to recognise the importance of business deals within the broking sector.

Examples could include:

• A major scheme partnership
• A transformational acquisition
• A major investment

The shortlist will be chosen by the judging panel, but companies can nominate themselves with a submission as to why they should win.

Open to any FCA-regulated general insurance broker or independent intermediary operating in the UK general insurance market.

The award focuses on the effective use of technology by brokers as part of the wider shift to digitalisation. This includes within the firm, in contact with trading partners and for client facing relationships in either B2C or B2B environments.

Judges will be looking for examples from the following:

• How firms have interacted with customers through platforms such as websites, apps and mobile devices
• Evidence of enhanced and personalised customer service thanks to the application of technology
• Evidence of how a firm has built a platform to respond to future changes such as increased availability of management information
• Evidence that applying these latest technologies has led to greater efficiency and more profitable business

Open to any FCA-regulated general insurance broker or independent intermediary operating in the UK general insurance market

This award is designed to recognise investment and support of the sustainability agenda – in its many guises - by a broker business. The judges will be looking for a broker that can demonstrate a combination of one or all of the following:

• How it boosted sustainability objectives within the business with clear and measurable objectives
• How they have fully embraced the principles of business sustainability within their operation/s
• How the initiative was part of an overall coherent and integrated approach
• How the sustainability strategy has played an integral role within the business, contributing to its success
• A clear statement of how any sustainability initiative is aligned with the company or organisation's strategic and business goals

The winner will be automatically considered for the overall Insurance Broker of the Year Award.

Open to any FCA-regulated general insurance broker or independent intermediary operating in the UK general insurance market.

This award is designed to recognise investment and support of the diversity and inclusion agenda – in its many guises - by a broker business. The judges will be looking for a broker that can demonstrate a combination of one or all of the following:

• How it boosted D&I within the business with clear and measurable objectives
• How they have fully embraced the principles of D&I within their operation/s
• How the initiative was part of an overall coherent and integrated approach
• How the D&I strategy has played an integral role within the business, contributing to its success
• A clear statement of how any D&I initiative is aligned with the company or organisation's strategic and business goals

Open to any FCA-regulated general insurance broker or independent intermediary operating in the UK general insurance market.

The judges will be looking for entries using social media and/or more traditional mediums such as print, radio or television. Entries should:

• Demonstrate how their organisation has raised brand awareness, broken into new markets, improved market share or enhanced customer loyalty, be that in the B2C or the B2B arenas
   
• A successful campaign could include the use of Twitter or Facebook to better connect with specific consumers or the application of data analytics to identify a customer segment to target. It could be a programme of niche trade press advertising or attendance at conferences or events
   
• In all cases entries must include sustained customer engagement rather than a one-off isolated occurrence It will be particularly important to demonstrate the achievement of results against targets.

The winner will be automatically considered for the overall Insurance Broker of the Year Award. 

The judges will be looking for a company that can demonstrate a real commitment to meeting specific customer needs and delivering a high quality of service across its schemes business. 

This should be coupled with a proven track record of success in terms of innovative and profitable expansion in existing markets along with development of products or schemes for new markets. 

The successful entrant will give statistical proof of the above along with evidence around: 

• Training of staff 

• Successful partnership programmes with insurer partners 

• The ability to market to niche audiences 

The winner will automatically be entered into the Insurance Broker of the Year category. Open to any FCA-regulated general insurance broker or independent intermediary operating in the UK general insurance market.

Open to any FCA-regulated general insurance broker or independent intermediary operating in the UK general insurance market.

This award is designed to recognise investment in the staff skills - both technical and "soft" - by a broker business.

The judges will be looking for a company that can demonstrate a combination of one or all of the following:

• Investment in new recruits to the industry through apprentice programmes
   
• How a programme of career development training has played an integral role within the business, contributing to its success
   
• Approaches to ensuring skills and succession plans are delivered leading to internal promotions at management, boardroom and ownership levels

The winner will be automatically considered for the overall Insurance Broker of the Year Award.

Open to anyone working in the general insurance broking industry under the age of 30 on the entry deadline of 19 May 2023.

This award will go to the person who:

• Has made significant strides in their professional development and career over the past year
   
• Can clearly demonstrate their contribution to the team or department in which he or she works
   
• Can give evidence of commitment to pursuing relevant professional qualifications and an interest in making their mark in the wider market

All nominations must be made or supported by the person's departmental or line manager.

Open to any FCA-regulated general insurance broker or independent intermediary operating in the UK general insurance market.

The judges will be looking for a broker in the personal lines arena that has managed to excel despite the on-going tough economic environment.

This should manifest itself in several of the following:

• Levels of customer service and staff engagement
   
• Levels of growth and profitability
   
• How they have responded to the demands of consumers with a product/scheme/offering relevant to their needs
   
• Use of marketing/technology/social media to increase profitable market share

The judges will look at the overall performance of the broker but will expect evidence in support of any claims made in regard to the performance of the business.

The winner will be automatically considered for the overall Insurance Broker of the Year Award.

Open to all broking employees.

We are repeatedly told that broking is dependent on its people.

But for every director or senior executive in the spotlight, there are hundreds of broker employees who mostly go unnoticed, but appreciated within their own firms, respected by colleagues and loved by their clients.

These people may not be line managers or have direct reports, but their efforts and achievements over the last 12-18 months will have made a crucial mark on the business they work for.

This award seeks to give these unsung broking superstars their moment in the limelight.

The judges will be looking for a demonstration of an individual’s contribution to their employer; including examples of when said person went the extra distance, and details of how they have made an indelible mark on clients.

Open to all MGAs.

This broker voted category will canvas the opinions of the Insurance Age readers to find out which MGAs they think excel when it comes to overall service, taking everything from pricing, products, communication and claims into consideration.

Insurance Age readers will be asked to rank their favourite MGAs and the top six will be shortlisted ahead of the event.

Voting will be completed by survey over the summer. Voting forms will also be available at the Insurance Age stand at the 2023 BIBA Conference in Manchester on presentation of a valid business card.

Open to all SME insurers

This broker voted category will canvas the opinions of the Insurance Age readers to find out which commercial lines insurers they think excel when it comes to overall SME service, taking everything from pricing, products, communication and claims into consideration.

Insurance Age readers will be asked to rank their favourite SME insurers and the top six will be shortlisted ahead of the event.

Voting will be completed by survey over the summer. Voting forms will also be available at the Insurance Age stand at the 2023 BIBA Conference in Manchester on presentation of a valid business card.

Open to all personal lines insurers

This broker voted category will canvas the opinions of the Insurance Age readers to find out which personal lines insurers they think excel when it comes to overall PL service, taking everything from pricing, products, communication and claims into consideration.

Insurance Age readers will be asked to rank their favourite PL insurers and the top six will be shortlisted ahead of the event.

Voting will be completed by survey over the summer. Voting forms will also be available at the Insurance Age stand at the 2023 BIBA Conference in Manchester on presentation of a valid business card.

Open to all mid-corporate insurers

This broker voted category will canvas the opinions of the Insurance Age readers to find out which mid-corporate commercial lines insurers they think excel when it comes to overall service, taking everything from pricing, products, communication and claims into consideration.

Insurance Age readers will be asked to rank their favourite mid-corporate insurers and the top six will be shortlisted ahead of the event.

Voting will be completed by survey over the summer. Voting forms will also be available at the Insurance Age stand at the 2023 BIBA Conference in Manchester on presentation of a valid business card.

Open to all schemes insurers

This broker voted category will canvas the opinions of the Insurance Age readers to find out which schemes insurers they think excel when it comes to overall service, taking everything from pricing, products, communication and claims into consideration.

Insurance Age readers will be asked to rank their favourite schemes insurers and the top six will be shortlisted ahead of the event.

Voting will be completed by survey over the summer. Voting forms will also be available at the Insurance Age stand at the 2023 BIBA Conference in Manchester on presentation of a valid business card.