Nick Linacre: How the Claims MGA of the Year brings an investigator’s mindset to claims handling

Judges awarded Purbeck Insurance Services the Claims MGA of the Year title at the Insurance Times Claims Excellence Awards 2026, praising the business for “a focused and purposeful proposition centred on enabling economic growth through specialist underwriting”.

They added that Purbeck’s model “places claims prevention at its core”, highlighting its commitment to supporting policyholders before problems escalate and bringing “a human dimension to an innovative product”.

For Linacre, claims manager at personal guarantee specialist Purbeck, that recognition reflects a philosophy he has developed throughout a career spent uncovering fraud and investigating financial misconduct – one that now shapes how Purbeck approaches claims.

For much of his career, Linacre’s job was to uncover what had gone wrong.

Before joining Purbeck Insurance Services three years ago in April 2023, he investigated internal fraud at Barclays, worked on complex fraud projects at Deloitte and later examined abuse of Covid 19 Bounce Back Loans at the Insolvency Service.

Today, those investigative skills underpin the way he leads Purbeck’s claims team, helping directors navigate financial distress before insolvency becomes inevitable under personal guarantee policies.

“The nature of my job was these reports would come in, we would travel up and down the country and go and interview these members of staff,” Linacre recalls of his time investigating fraud at Barclays.

It was there that he developed the questioning techniques he still uses today.

“I learned how to start with what we call the funnel technique, which is very broad questions that you start with and then narrow down.”

One opening question became a favourite.

“So why do you think I’m here to see you today?”

“It sounds cruel,” he says, “but there was a reason for it.”

Rather than confronting someone with a specific allegation, the broad question often encouraged interviewees to reveal more than investigators already knew.

The same approach now helps him understand the circumstances facing directors making claims under Purbeck’s personal guarantee insurance policies.

Although the industries are different, Linacre believes claims handling and investigations share more similarities than many realise.

From reactive to proactive

Since joining Purbeck, Linacre has grown the claims department from effectively a one-person operation into a dedicated team, allowing managing director Todd Davison to step away from day-to-day claims responsibilities.

But expanding the department has only been part of the journey.

For Linacre, the bigger challenge has been changing what claims means.

“We have the claims department split into two sections,” he explains. “We have the support services and then we have the claims section of the process.”

That distinction is deliberate. Under Purbeck’s policies, clients are encouraged to contact the business as soon as they begin experiencing financial difficulties, rather than waiting until insolvency is unavoidable.

That early intervention allows Purbeck to connect directors with marketing specialists, legal advisers, restructuring experts and debt advisory firms before their situation deteriorates.

The support even extends beyond business advice. Earlier this year, Purbeck partnered with mental health charity Andy’s Man Club, allowing the business to refer clients experiencing mental health difficulties to additional support where appropriate.

“A lot of our clients are men that are going through hard times,” Linacre says. “If a client does make remarks that allude to their mental health position, it is something that we will offer as well.”

For him, this wider support network is what separates Purbeck from much of the wider insurance market.

“I believe that our insurance product is proactive, as opposed to being reactive,” he says.

“Insurance, by the very nature of what it is, is reactive. You react to a crash, you react to a cancellation or you react to something going wrong.

“With us, it’s different because you’re getting in touch before something bad happens and we’re going to try and help you before something bad happens.”

The philosophy is simple.

He explains: “You keep trading as a company director and we win because we keep you as a policyholder as well.”

Creating a positive culture

Despite dealing daily with insolvencies and businesses under pressure, Linacre is clear that the atmosphere within his own team feels very different.

“We work in such a negative space,” he says.

“The people we deal with, they’re going insolvent, their lives are falling apart and we have to be there to help them through that process. So I try to create a real positive space in the claims department and make sure that we’re always upbeat.”

This approach extends to his management style too.

“I don’t like to make people’s lives difficult,” he says.

“People have got personal stuff going on outside work, so whilst they’re at work, if they’re enjoying their job, I’m going to get the best out of them.”

Linacre is also currently exploring ways to use financial reporting tools to identify clients showing early signs of distress before they even contact Purbeck, allowing the business to prompt them towards support services sooner.

“We’re trying to operate on the grounds that the more we know, the better,” he says.

“It’s just trying to step in earlier to help our clients.”

Looking ahead

Looking ahead, Linacre sees the Insurance Times Claims Excellence award as validation that the business is heading in the right direction.

“I think it demonstrates that we’re doing the right things,” he says.

“We’re there to support, and that award gives us the recognition I believe that we deserve as a company.”

He expects demand for personal guarantee insurance to continue increasing as more lenders require guarantees alongside business finance.

Combined with greater brand awareness and continued investment in proactive support services, he believes Purbeck is well placed for the future.

“We’re still the sole supplier in the UK,” he says.

“The world’s our oyster.”