Minority Broker Partnerships has acquired a minority stake in Sturdy Edwards (Insurance Brokers) Ltd, an insurance broker based in East Grinstead, West Sussex.
Sturdy Edwards places over £3 million in gross written premium annually and serves both business and private clients. The firm operates with a team of six insurance professionals under the leadership of David Epstein.
Epstein said that the partnership would provide "invaluable guidance and insight" from MBP's expertise in the insurance broking market.
James McCaffrey (pictured above), chief executive officer of Minority Broker Partnerships, said the firm invested in Sturdy Edwards following assessments of its client base and service record. McCaffrey indicated that the partnership "represents a great opportunity for both parties," adding that MBP looked forward to "a productive and mutually beneficial relationship with Sturdy Edwards."
The investment marks the third transaction completed by MBP within a six-week period. The group has pursued a diversified investment approach across the insurance sector, having simultaneously acquired stakes in both traditional broking operations and specialist managing general agents.
The firm's previous investment in Moonrock Insurance, an MGA focused on the emerging drone and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) insurance market, demonstrates this breadth, with the backing intended to accelerate growth and innovation in nascent risk categories.
Read more: UK insurance M&A starts Q4 strong
Market data also indicates that such investments in smaller regional brokers have become increasingly prevalent. More than two-thirds of UK insurance M&A transactions in 2025 involved targets valued below £5 million, above the 10-year average of 59%, as consolidators pursue smaller acquisition opportunities in an environment of constrained mid-market deal availability.
The investment landscape reflects broader consolidation trends, with 85 deals announced across the first ten months of 2025 involving 47 separate buyers, 10 of which completed multiple acquisitions. This distribution of activity underscores a market environment in which consolidators of varying sizes have adapted strategies to accommodate limited target availability and evolving market conditions.
