A sensational singing soiree, law firm partner delivers podcast, former loss adjuster turns author for claims-centric memoir and London market collaborates for industry linked fundraising. What has the insurance industry been up to of late? You heard it here first…
Indie insurance fans
Insurance Times was lucky enough to enjoy some corporate hospitality from professional services firm KPMG in February 2026, as content director Katie Scott was invited to the company’s suite at arena venue O2 to watch English indie rock band Florence and The Machine deliver a dramatic, Halloween inspired set.
The group performed fan favourites such as Dog Days are Over, King and Shake It Out to a full house in south east London.
Partner produces podcast
Searching for a new podcast to fill your commuting time or replace weekend scrolling? Then why not check out The Diary of a Claims Handler – a regular podcast series delivered by law firm Horwich Farrelly’s partner and head of innovation and client solutions, David Scott.
The series – which Scott puts together in his own time – focuses on the people-centric nature of UK general insurance, with Scott interviewing a wide spectrum of industry participants about how they started their careers in insurance and what has shaped their developmental road maps to date.
Alongside career conversations, each episode delves into personal topics too – such as work-life balance, mental health, imposter syndrome, mentoring and leadership.
Previous podcast guests include Allianz’s head of financial crime intelligence and investigations, Matt Crabtree, The AA’s claims director, Natalie Spurrier, and Scott Clayton, head of claims fraud at Zurich UK.
The Diary of a Claims Handler is available on Spotify.
Author adjuster
So, what does the day-to-day life of a loss adjuster look like? This question can now be answered thanks to the humorous professional memoir of former loss adjuster Richard Thurstan, who published his first short book – entitled The Perils of a Loss Adjuster – in April 2024.
The 18,000-word work of non-fiction describes real-life claims cases that Thurstan worked on over a 10-year period during his overall 40-year tenure in the insurance sector, covering everything from supposed storm damage situations to accidental damage details.
Thurstan’s stories are no holds barred, including his reactions and responses, making for very entertaining reading.
London market steps up
In February 2026, Matthew Wilson – former chief executive at Brit Insurance and current chair of trustees for charity Blood Cancer UK – hosted a celebratory evening at Lloyd’s of London in recognition of the £7.3m the London market raised for his eponymous charitable fund.
Wilson was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer, in 2021. After leaving Brit Insurance in 2022 and undergoing treatment for the disease, Wilson set up the Matthew Wilson Multiple Myeloma Fund, to financially support research and development focused on creating a cure to this specific type of cancer.
Wilson said: ”I’m so proud of what this will mean for people affected by multiple myeloma and am hugely thankful for all of you who’ve been with us on this journey so far.”
Foodie finds
Ever wondered where to take colleagues, peers or business connections for a lunch time two courses, or an after work meal? Insurance Times rounds up some of the spots it has enjoyed with market firms recently…
- Although famed London retail store Fortnum and Mason is well known for its luxury goods, the Insurance Times editorial team has also discovered that the venue offers a delectable private dining experience too, after insurer Zurich UK treated trade press to a
three course dinner on the shop’s fifth floor. Journalists enjoyed beetroot salads, succulent beef and British favourite sticky toffee pudding as some of the menu options.
- Paradise Green is a stone’s throw from Lloyd’s of London, making it an ideal haunt for moreish market meals. Trade press recently enjoyed a three course dinner with data exchange technology company Acord in the venue’s private dining room, with dishes including a Middle Eastern inspired carrot starter and a high quality slab of sirloin steak for main course.
- Health conscious foodies might want to take a lunchtime stroll to one of Natural Kitchen’s three London-based venues for satisfying salads that taste as good as they look. Insurance Times met insurer Ageas at the eatery chain’s Fetter Lane restaurant, tucking into a superfood detox salad with extra halloumi – because more cheese is never a bad thing.
- Fans of French dining should saunter over to Covent Garden’s Balthazar for decadent dishes from the Continent. Sitting down with insurer Axa, Insurance Times enjoyed a traditional French onion soup starter – complete with a cheesy, crouton laden topping – followed by a homey confit duck leg cassoulet. C’est délicieux.
Since joining Insurance Times, Katie has successfully obtained a number of industry accolades. Most recently, at Biba's 2025 Journalist and Media Awards, Katie was named the overall winner and received the Journalist of the Year trophy, alongside the Best Thought Leadership Award for her briefing article on reproductive health MGA Juniper and how insurance can be used to positively impact taboo subjects.View full Profile
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