Supporting small businesses will be ‘crucial’ in the industry’s ‘collective recovery’

Digital insurance broker Simply Business has today (8 June 2021) partnered with insurer RSA to launch its new SME shop insurance.

RSA will join Simply Business’ panel of insurance providers to offer tailored insurance products to the broker’s customers via both the MORE THAN and RSA brands.

The micro-SME shop product aims to offer customers, as well as SMEs, more choice for their insurance needs – especially as there has been an increased demand for online shopping during the course of the Covid-19 pandemic and as many businesses are now starting to prepare for reopening post-lockdown.

Simply Business chief executive Alan Thomas said that Covid-19 has had a “huge impact” on small businesses.

He continued: “That’s why we’re delighted to partner with an iconic insurer like RSA to help provide yet more strong brands and even greater choice to our SME customers.

“Owning a shop is about so much more than premises and operations - they’re built by hard working people and together with RSA, we’re working to make sure there are fewer worries after a challenging year.

“Our data shows there is a growing demand for shop insurance, with SMEs across the country starting to kickstart or open their operations - it’s important we can support small businesses, knowing that they will be crucial to our collective recovery.”

Increased demand

Simply Business is provides a range of insurance products to over 800,000 small businesses and landlord customers.

Over the past 12 months, the insurance broker has seen a 300% demand in online shop policies and a 260% rise in high street policies.

Thomas added: “At Simply Business, we’re passionate about supporting small business owners and it feels like the right time to explore ways to extend even more choice to support our retail and shop SME customers’ insurance needs through partnering with RSA who share that passion.”

Rob Flynn, RSA UK’s SME director, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Simply Business to expand the distribution of our high-quality SME insurance products under both our RSA and MORE THAN brands.

“As Alan notes, small businesses are the lifeblood of the UK economy and play a critical role in our society.

“We are proud to play our part in supporting them to realise their full potential.”

Launched in 2005, Simply Business provides an online brokerage service to deliver policies tailored to individual business requirements.