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Business Cyber Insurance Insurance Insurance Insights

Why Brokers Need Your Details (And Why It Matters More Than Ever)

Insurers have significantly tightened their underwriting over the past 12 – 18 months, and the level of data required before quoting has increased acrosss the board.

What’s changed?

Insurers are now scrutinising risk information far more closely than they used to. Where a brief overview may have been enough in the past, underwriters today want specifics: detailed claims histories, updated asset values, current risk management practices, workforce numbers, and revenue breakdowns. We are essentially asking for the works.

It’s not about being difficult. It’s about insurers protecting their books in a tougher market.

And here’s the reality: incomplete or vague information leads to higher premiums, coverage restrictions, or declined quotes.

Why we’re asking (again)

We know it can feel repetitive. You provided this information last year, and your business hasn’t changed significantly. Why do we need it all over again?

Because insurers treat every renewal as a fresh underwriting exercise. They’re reassessing your risk profile based on current information, not last year’s data. If we don’t provide comprehensive, accurate details upfront, we lose negotiation power, and potentially you may lose more as a result.

What good information gets you:

  • Sharper pricing – Underwriters price what they understand. The clearer the picture, the tighter the premium.
  • Broader coverage – Detailed risk information helps us argue for better terms, higher limits, and fewer exclusions.
  • Faster turnaround – Complete submissions avoid the back-and-forth that delays quotes and eats into your renewal timeline.
  • More options – Insurers are more willing to quote and complete when they have confidence in the information.

Our commitment to you

We are not asking for details to tick boxes. We’re asking to secure the best possible outcome for your business. Every data point you provide gives us leverage to negotiate on your behalf, and in this market, that leverage matters.

We also get that you’re busy. If there’s a way we can make the renewal process easier by pre-filling forms, scheduling a quick call instead of lengthy emails, or consolidating requests, please let us know. We’re here to make this work for you, not add to your workload.

What this means for your business

The insurance market hasn’t changed, and neither have the expectations around risk information. The more detail we have, the harder we can push for competitive terms. It might feel like extra effort now, but it translates directly into better cover and better value when renewal time comes.

As always, if you’ve got questions about what we’re asking for (or why), we’re happy to walk you through it.

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Business Insurance Insurance Insights

Why Run-Off Cover Matters More Than You Think

When we asked our Insurance Advisors what cover they wish clients took more seriously, one answer stood out: run-off cover.

Many business owners with Professional Indemnity insurance cancel their cover when they retire, sell their business, or stop trading.

They often think they no longer need insurance.

But without run-off cover, they will not be protected for work they did in the past.

What Is Run-Off Cover?

Run-off cover is an extension to Professional Indemnity insurance. It protects a business after it stops trading.

Professional Indemnity insurance is a claims-made policy. Because of this, it is important for businesses to add run-off cover.

To understand this, it helps to see how different types of insurance work.

Occurrence-Based Insurance (e.g. Public Liability)

Most insurance, such as Public Liability insurance, respond based on when an incident happens.

For example:

  • A business had Public Liability insurance from 2010 to 2015
  • Someone slipped at the business premises in 2014
  • The claim was made in 2020

In this case, the policy from 2014 can still respond. This is because the incident happened while the insurance policy was active.

Claims-Made Insurance (e.g. Professional Indemnity)

Professional Indemnity insurance works differently.

It is a claims-made policy. This means there must be an active policy when the claim is made.

For example:

  • A business had Professional Indemnity insurance from 2010 to 2015
  • The business stopped trading and cancelled the policy in 2016
  • A claim was made in 2020 about advice given in 2014

Even though the business had insurance when the advice was given, there is no active policy in 2020 when he claim is made.

Because of this, there will be no cover to protect the business.

Without run-off cover, the business will need to pay legal costs, settlements, or compensation themselves.

Other common claims-made insurance include:

  • Cyber Insurance
  • Management Liability insurance

How Run-Off Cover Helps

This is where run-off cover is important.

If a business takes out run-off cover after it stops trading, it can still be protected if a claim is made later.

Run-off cover is especially important for:

  • Retiring business owners
  • Businesses being sold
  • Professionals changing industries
  • Anyone cancelling a claims-made insurance
Small business owner speaking with insurance broker about run-off cover protection

Why Run-Off Cover Matters

Claims for advice or professional work can take years to appear.

Sometimes a problem is not found until long after the job is finished.

The Good News

Run-off cover is often cheaper than active insurance.

The cost can also go down over time as the risk reduces.

Many industries suggest around 7 years of run-off cover. But the right time depends on the business, contracts, and industry.

Speak to Your Broker Before Cancelling Cover

It may feel natural to cancel insurance when closing a business or retiring.

But without understanding future risk, it can lead to serious financial problems later.

Before cancelling any claims-made insurance policy, speak with your broker about run-off cover.

A short conversation today could help protect you from a costly claim in the future.