UNA Alliance

Acrisure, a fast-growing fintech leader that operates a top-10 global insurance broker, has announced its acquisition of UNA Member Russell Scanlan, the distinguished bespoke insurance brokerage and risk manager. The deal is expected to close in the near term, pending FCA regulatory approvals.

To date in 2022, Acrisure has completed or has under letter of intent 100 acquisitions, continuing its industry-leading M&A pace. Established in Nottingham in 1881, Russell Scanlan prides itself on a strong professional pedigree built through advising on all forms of commercial insurance, from large corporates through to SMEs, across multiple and specialist sectors and also for private clients. As part of Acrisure, the Russell Scanlan team will now benefit from Acrisure’s global network of insurance peers as well as access to the Company’s world-class AI systems and technology. 

In the second of our Member Spotlight articles, this month it's the time of Berns Brett and more specifically, their Irish office.

Since Brexit, some UNA members have had issues dealing with Irish clients or Irish subsidiaries. By introducing BBi Ireland to UNA members, they can help with all your Irish risks. BBi Ireland provides quality independent advice on all aspects of corporate and personal insurance, risk management and business continuity.

In the first of our new series, each month we will be shining the spotlight on a UNA Member.

This month, it is the turn of Sutton Specialist Risks (SSR).     

As a UNA Member, they are one of our newest, joining formally in July 2018.  As a business however, they are over 30 years old based out of central Bristol. 

Their aim is to provide niche expertise and wholesale insurance products to meet the needs of clients operating predominantly in the security and fire protection industries.  They understand the importance of meeting the high expectations of brokers who are supporting their clients.

In the second of this year's series, we meet Warren Baldwin, the new Chairman of the UNA Placement Group.

Warren, tell us a bit about your career to date and how the world of insurance has altered since you started out?

Like everyone I fell into the insurance industry. I had been on a few lads holidays and came home to find out I had an interview at Royal Insurance. I was a bit confused as I had not applied for any jobs, but found out my mum had sent my cv out to various companies to get me out of the house!

Anyway, I went to the interview and was offered the job as a underwriter. That was it, I was pulled into the wonderful world of insurance.

I worked as an underwriter on the Berns Brett account and after 3 years Berns Brett offered me a job as an account hander and 24 years later I am still here.

I think that the basics of the industry are still the same, with it being a people business. However, I do think that the technical side of the industry has suffered over the last 15 years with a lot of knowledge being allowed to leave the sector.

Obviously, regulation has changed a lot in the last 20 years and working practices are far more rigid compared to when I first entered the broking industry. 

In the first of our All Together Better People series for 2022, we speak with Jamie Coskry of T L Dallas.  

Jamie was the recent winner of the UNA Newcomer Award following a varied career path to get to where he is today.

As mentioned, you recently won the UNA Newcomer of the Year Award, tell us a bit about how your career to date brought you into the world of insurance…

My career to date has been rather varied. Progressing from rugby into a career in law was the first major change. Then for my next challenge I entered the world of Insurance. My teamworking skills through years of rugby and analytical skills brought from law allowed me to make a fairly smooth transgression into Insurance. I believe having different core skills has allowed me to adapt and grow within this industry within a relatively short period of time.