Fee and commission income (2003): £186m.
Pre-tax profit (2003): £936,000
Address: Weston House 246 High Holborn
London WC1V 7EX
Tel: 0870 160 0201
Fax: 020 7415 3910
Email: lb@layton-blackham.co.uk
Website: www.layton-blackham.com
History: Formed in 1984 by Chris Blackham in Covent Garden, Layton Blackham has established itself at the forefront of its chosen markets.
Continued growth of both income and profit has been, and will continue to be, achieved primarily by investment in new business sales, selective acquisition and the success of the Layton Blackham Business Solutions initiative. Layton Blackham has completed 19 broker deals in the last six years and has further deals in the pipeline for the second half of 2004.
Subsidiary companies: Layton Blackham Insurance Brokers Ltd is a dynamic and innovative general insurance broker focussed towards UK corporate, commercial SME and property business. Associated high net worth and affinity group personal lines business is dealt with by the private client division.
Layton Blackham Underwriting Ltd administers a wide range of commercial package policies on behalf of the major UK insurers under the Elite policies brand. Layton Blackham Financial Services Ltd provides a bespoke service to corporate and individual customers and is authorised and regulated by the FSA. The group also provides training and compliance services to IFAs via CTC Consulting Ltd.
Layton Blackham Business Solutions was launched at the end of 2003 to provide a range of added-value services for professional, commercially focused brokers who want to remain independent but would benefit in terms of increased turnover and profit from improved access to markets, upgraded IT and compliance assistance.
The initiative has far exceeded expectations and is being fully rolled out in 2004/2005.
Chief officer: Chris Blackham
Biography: Prior to entering the insurance business, Chris Blackham taught water-skiing in Europe.
He set up Layton Blackham in 1984 in Covent Garden, from where the group still trades.
Major shareholders: Chris Blackham
Main lines of business: corporate, commercial, property owners, HNW personal lines, affinity groups, financial services
Special schemes: elite policies - broad range of commercial packages including traders, combined, retail, licensed premises, property owners, blocks of flats and professional indemnity.
Number of UK branches: 13
Number of employees (average for 2003): 356.
