Sponsored content: Elliott Hayes, director of sales at Close Brothers Premium Finance, discusses the vital nature of solid partnerships
Resilience has become a defining theme across the UK insurance market. Brokers are operating against a backdrop of economic uncertainty, regulatory change and rising customer expectations –all while continuing to provide essential protection for customers nationwide.
At Close Brothers Premium Finance (CBPF), resilience is not viewed as a short‑term response to market pressure. It’s the result of deliberate strategic decisions, long‑term investment and a clear focus on where we can deliver the most sustainable value for brokers.
Focus as a foundation
As part of our long‑term strategy, we made the decision to exit relationships with certain personal lines brokers and concentrate our efforts on commercial lines broker partnerships. This decision was not driven by short‑term market conditions, but by the need to create a more resilient and sustainable business for both CBPF and the brokers we support.
However, it’s important to be clear – Close Brothers haven’t exited the personal lines market. In our commercial lines broker partnerships, we continue to support their personal lines business as part of a balanced portfolio.
Resilience starts with being clear about where you can add the greatest value. By focusing on commercial broker relationships, we’re able to invest more deeply and build partnerships that are designed to stand the test of time.
Broker resilience
For brokers, resilience is built through certainty and support, particularly during periods of market disruption. Our relationship‑led model is designed to provide brokers with consistent access to experienced teams, practical support and insight, irrespective of the broader climate.
By working closely with brokers, we help ensure they have a trusted premium finance partner who understands their business and can support them through both growth phases and periods of volatility.
Resilience also depends on strong relationships with external partners. By expanding our relationships with trusted external suppliers, including the offshoring of our contact centres, we have an operating model that can flex and scale.
This approach supports a more resilient service model, enabling us to manage demand effectively, maintain service standards and support long‑term investment.
Merchant banking group
CBPF’s resilience is further underpinned by being part of Close Brothers Group, a specialist banking group with a long‑term outlook and disciplined approach to growth.
For brokers, this brings tangible benefits – financial stability, long‑term investment capability and a partner able to make decisions with a long-term view of the market.
Being part of a merchant bank allows us to invest for the long-term. That strength translates into resilience for brokers, knowing they are working with a partner committed to long‑term support and sustainable growth.
Tomorrow’s resilience
Long‑term resilience also depends on technology that is fit for the future. Continued investment in programmes such as the modernisation of our i‑prompt platform reflects our commitment to improving operational resilience, efficiency and broker experience over the long term.
Resilience is not created overnight. It’s built through focus, partnership and sustained investment – principles that sit at the heart of how CBPF supports brokers today and for the future.
