Essex-based First Commercial Insurance Brokers specialises in renovation projects, commercial and private client insurance

Pensions Insight

Aston Scott has acquired broker First Commercial Insurance Brokers – its first broker acquisition for 2016 and its first since Peter Blanc joined as executive chairman.

Essex-based First Commercial also trades as Renovation Plan and specialises in providing insurance for renovation projects alongside its core business of general commercial and private client insurance.

Current directors Ian and Debbie Montague and Mark Franklin will all stay with Aston Scott, while the offices will become Aston Scott’s 13th branch.

Set up in 2003, First Commercial employs around 20 staff from its Burnham-on-Crouch offices. The business currently places around £5m in gross written premium (GWP).

Franklin said: “We are all tremendously excited to be joining Aston Scott at the start of the next phase of its growth following its management buy-out earlier this year.

“Our clients and staff will all relish the opportunities that being part of a larger group will bring and this will also enable us to expand our Renovation Plan scheme.”

Blanc led a management buy-out of Aston Scott in May 2015, funded by private equity firm Bowmark Capital. Blanc became executive chairman, while Heidi Carslaw remained as chief executive.

Aston Scott controls around £100m in GWP and has a commission income of £18m.