Clear Group, the independent chartered insurance intermediary, has acquired Delco Safety Limited, a specialist fire safety and compliance consultancy, as part of its strategy to expand its Risk Management division.
Based in Morden, Delco employs 19 staff and provides fire risk assessments, safety inspections and compliance consultancy. Its client base includes local authorities, councils, and commercial property owners. The firm has built long-standing relationships with these organisations, delivering scheduled inspections, maintenance advice and compliance reviews through a team of fire safety specialists.
Delco operates in a niche but increasingly important market. Demand for fire safety consultancy has grown sharply following the introduction of new legislation such as the Building Safety Act, which has placed greater regulatory scrutiny on building owners and property managers. Against this backdrop, Delco’s expertise in compliance and risk assessment makes it a valuable addition to Clear’s service offering.
The acquisition also highlights Clear’s commitment to enhancing its risk management division by integrating advisory services with insurance solutions.
By combining Delco’s capabilities with its broking expertise, Clear will be able to deliver packaged services that address clients’ regulatory obligations while structuring tailored insurance programmes to mitigate wider risks.
Clear Group CEO Mike Edgeley said the deal reflects the company’s strategy to grow its risk management division by adding specialist expertise in fire safety. He described Delco as a natural fit for the group, with its strong compliance culture, robust reputation, and complementary client base.
Meanwhile, Delco director Derek Andrews noted that joining Clear provides the scale and resources needed to accelerate growth and broaden its service offering. He added that both businesses share a commitment to compliance, quality, and client service, and that Delco’s fire risk expertise would strengthen Clear’s overall proposition.
The move is the latest in a series of acquisitions by Clear, which has pursued an active M&A strategy in recent years to expand its national presence and specialist capabilities. Earlier this year, the group acquired C.R. Toogood & Co Limited, a commercial insurance broker in Surrey.
For the wider market, the deal underscores how UK intermediaries are evolving beyond transactional insurance placement. As clients face increasingly complex regulatory environments, brokers are positioning themselves as risk advisors, offering compliance and consultancy services alongside insurance. Clear’s acquisition of Delco illustrates this trend, aligning its business model with the changing needs of property owners, local authorities, and commercial clients.
