The British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) has announced Markel as an official partner.
Markel, which provides insurance, tax and legal services to more than one million customers in the UK, has worked with regional brokers for several decades. The company currently supports BIBA members through a facility that includes a 24/7 business and legal helpline, tax and VAT support, and access to its online Business Hub.
As part of the partnership, Markel will sponsor and exhibit at the BIBA Conference taking place in Manchester from May 14 to 15. In December, the insurer hosted the conference theme launch at its London office, where the 2025 theme, “A New Era”, was announced.
BIBA CEO Graeme Trudgill (pictured) said the partnership builds on an existing relationship, describing the arrangement as a formalisation of Markel’s longstanding involvement with the association. He said BIBA members have already made use of the resources provided by Markel and noted plans to expand on the collaboration.
Meanwhile, Simon Johnston, UK marketing director at Markel, said the partnership aligns with the company’s focus on supporting brokers in a changing market. He added that working with BIBA would help expand the range of tools and services available to brokers across the UK.
The announcement comes as BIBA continues its policy and regulatory work ahead of its annual conference. In April, the association published research estimating that regulatory costs account for 5.2% of client-paid insurance premiums, with a disproportionate share borne by insurance brokers. BIBA is currently engaging with the Financial Conduct Authority on the issue, raising concerns about the impact of regulatory expenses on the broking sector.
The association has also released a new guide for members focused on accessing capacity from managing general agents (MGAs), citing the growing importance of MGAs in underwriting and risk placement. The guide is intended to support brokers seeking to navigate alternative sources of market capacity.
