Peter Cullum-backed MBP takes minority stake in Sussex broker

Boutique investment firm Minority Broker Partnerships (MBP) has acquired a minority stake in broker Sturdy Edwards.

Based in East Grinstead in West Sussex, Sturdy Edwards currently places over £3m in gross written premium (GWP) per year and has a staff of six insurance professionals.

The partnership with Sturdy Edwards follows a suite of MBP investments, most recently in drone specialist MGA Moonrock Insurance in October 2025.

According to James McCaffrey, chief executive at MBP, the new partnership with Sturdy Edwards represented a mutually beneficial relationship that would be a “great opportunity for both parties”.

“We are thrilled to invest in Sturdy Edwards, our third investment in the last six weeks. [The] talented team are a high-quality insurance broker with a loyal client base and a long-standing record of exceptional service,” he said.

Next phase

MBP, which is chaired and backed by industry veteran Peter Cullum, said its business model was typically to invest a “20% to 30% minority stake in retail insurance brokers which enables owners to release some capital but stay in control of their business”.

David Epstein, director at Sturdy Edwards, said: “We are excited to partner with MBP to support the next phase of our growth. Its extensive expertise in the insurance broking market will provide invaluable guidance and insight.

“This is an ideal fit for us, as we maintain our values of personal service and expert advice and with the backing of a trusted and major independent investor in the insurance sector, we are confident of building upon the success achieved over the past 26 years.

“This is also excellent news for our clients. With MBP’s support, Sturdy Edwards will benefit from an even broader insurer panel, more competitive premiums and the same high-quality customer service our clients have come to expect.”