Into the Dragons’ Den with Broker Network

The Broker Network has launched a service offering Dragons’ Den-style business advice to its members.

Group chief executive Grant Ellis will sit on a Broker Network Business Consultancy panel with Towergate senior executives including Peter Cullum, Andy Homer, Amanda Blanc and Kenny Maciver to offer what it claims is “the best of business brains in insurance” to its 163-strong membership.

The network is inviting members to its headquarters in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, for a number of half-day, one-to-one sessions with at least one of the panel members. Brokers must present a business plan or a dilemma to the panel, which will then offer a solution on how to achieve the proposed business goals. This could include suggestions that the brokers make better use of Broker Network’s services such as marketing, PR or compliance.

Ellis said the new service should help insurers understand the value of networks despite their current apathy towards the model. “When we get challenged by insurers saying [networks] don’t add any value, this is one of the ways we can do that,” he said.

The service will be only available to brokers who are full members of the network. Twenty-eight sessions have already been booked with the panel before the end of the year.

Amanda Blanc, the chief executive of Towergate Broking, said: “It’s great to be able to use your experience to help others and to support Broker Network – they have a great record in maintaining mutually beneficial relations with members and insurers. Initiatives like this to help brokers grow their business is certainly good for both.”