Ensurance opens Manchester office with double underwriting hire

Ensurance, the London-based specialty lines MGA, has opened its first office outside of London, aimed at developing the regional UK broker market. The new office based in Spinningfields in Manchester also sees the arrival of two new construction underwriters. The regional business is led by the firm’s regional development manager Ian Fox.

Senior construction underwriter Clark Gardiner joins from Tokio Marine Kiln with 12 years’ experience in the construction sector. He’s joined by construction underwriter Nick Lappin from Allianz who also specialises in construction insurance with 14 years’ experience in the industry; both start with immediate effect.

According to Ensurance CEO Tim James, the new office marks an important next step for the MGA:

“In three years, we’ve progressed from day one with a small team working from a hotel lobby, to opening our second office with a total underwriting team of 16 supporting 8 lines of business. Manchester is well-known for its vibrant and established insurance market and was the obvious choice for us to access and better service the regional UK broker community and their clients.”

“2019 was a year of challenges but ultimately success and growth for Ensurance. We start this year in excellent shape and are keen to build on the foundations we have laid, maintaining our focus on our core construction and terrorism portfolios, whilst being ready to pursue new, profitable specialty lines, if the opportunity and timing is right.”

ENDS