Hiscox will decide by the middle of 2007 whether to further expand its regional presence with an office in Dublin.
Insurance Times reported earlier in the year that an office in Ireland was being looked at. Hiscox currently services the Irish market from its office in Scotland.
Steve Langan, managing director, Hiscox UK, said a Dublin office was "still under consideration".
He said the insurer's new office in Manchester was the company's current focus. The Manchester office, will open on 2 January 2007.
Hiscox' other eight UK offices are in Birmingham, Bristol, Colchester, Glasgow, Leeds, London, Maidenhead and Tunbridge Wells.
Langan said: "The opening of the office in Manchester represents the next stage of our UK expansion. It supports our core strategy of making our insurance decision-makers accessible, which helps differentiate us from the competition through local understanding and superior service."
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.
