New Leeds United boss Peter Reid is renowned for being miserable. So it was nice to see him being quoted as "happy" by one Gibraltar-based insurer last week. But it could have been all so different.

New Leeds United boss Peter Reid is renowned for being miserable. So it was nice to see him being quoted as "happy" by one Gibraltar-based insurer last week. But it could have been all so different.

Reid attempted to renew his car insurance using his local broker. But when his broker called the underwriter, he decided to decline cover for Reid's Mini Cooper.

Next, the broker called his boss, who just happened to be in a café in Gibraltar, sitting next to the boss of the underwriter's insurance company.

The broker's boss queried the decision with the insurance company boss. The insurer boss then called his underwriter and said: "Do you want your P45, or do you want to put the risk on cover?"

The result was that Peter Reid was put on cover.

Just a few minutes later the broker called his boss again and said: "You'll never guess what happened the underwriter called and changed his mind."

It just shows, you don't have to be a PR disaster waiting to happen, but it helps.

The 2025 Insurance Times Awards took place on the evening of Wednesday 3rd December in the iconic Great Room of London’s Grosvenor House.

Hosted by comedian and actor Tom Allen, 34 Gold, 23 Silver and 22 Bronze awards were handed out across an amazing 34 categories recognising brilliance and innovation right across the breadth of UK general insurance.
Many congratulations to all the worthy winners and as always, huge thanks to our sponsors for their support and our judges for their expertise.

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