SRT & Partners

What SRT & Partners does

SRT & Partners is a London-based specialist insurance and asset finance holding group founded in 2024 by Tom Shipston (CEO) and Thomas Castle (CCO), operating as a portfolio of four subsidiary brokerages serving UK commercial clients. The group integrates commercial insurance broking (via Readhunt and First Business Protection) with asset finance brokerage (via First Business Finance and First Equine Funding), providing UK SMEs with combined access to corporate insurance placement and business funding solutions under a single relationship.

The core business model is commission-based brokerage, earning transaction fees on insurance placements routed through Lloyd's of London and the London Market, and on asset finance arrangements through a panel of trusted lenders. Readhunt holds Lloyd's of London Broker registration, providing privileged access to specialist markets unavailable to standard brokers. The firm operates across three UK locations—London (headquarters at One Lime Street in the Lloyd's of London building), Kent (Chatham), and South Yorkshire (Rotherham)—with a relationship-led sales approach targeting UK SMEs in construction, haulage, manufacturing, logistics, and equine sectors.

SRT & Partners is privately held and backed by B.P. Marsh & Partners PLC, a specialist private equity investor in early-stage financial services businesses, with B.P. Marsh CIO Dan Topping serving as Non-Executive Director. The company pursues growth through both organic client acquisition and acquisition of specialist brokerages, having acquired Readhunt and First Business Finance as founding portfolio companies and subsequently adding First Business Protection and First Equine Funding. There is no proprietary technology platform; the value proposition rests on integrated market access, sector expertise within each subsidiary, and long-term client relationships as an alternative to consolidated brokers.

Name

SRT & Partners

Legal name

SRT & Partners

Website

https://srtpartners.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SRT & Partners is a UK specialist insurance and asset finance holding group operating four subsidiary brokerages—Readhunt, First Business Finance, First Business Protection, and First Equine Funding—to serve UK SMEs with integrated commercial insurance and finance solutions and Lloyd's market access.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Insurance Broking and Asset Finance

NAICS

Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (52421), Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities (5242)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411), Loan Brokers (6163)

akta.pro primary industry

Employee Benefits Brokerage & Consulting (FSAEADAC)

Keywords

• Commercial insurance brokerage
• Asset finance brokerage
• Lloyd's of London broker
• Commercial insurance placement
• Equine asset finance

Headquarters

HQ city

Gravesend

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Insurance Broking: Commission-based insurance broking services placing commercial insurance across Lloyd's, London Market, and specialist insurers. Services include corporate insurance, bespoke schemes, and niche cover across construction, haulage, manufacturing, and logistics sectors.
2. Asset Finance Brokerage: Commission-based asset finance brokerage arranging funding solutions for business assets including equipment, equine assets, and commercial property. Works with a panel of trusted lenders to provide competitive, flexible finance.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

SRT & Partners is a London Market specialist insurance and finance distribution group that places commercial insurance across Lloyd's, the London Market, and specialist insurers, and arranges asset finance for business assets through a panel of trusted lenders. Operating through four portfolio brands (Readhunt, First Business Finance, First Business Protection, First Equine Funding), the group serves UK small and medium-sized enterprises across sectors including construction, haulage, manufacturing, logistics, and equine, providing integrated corporate insurance and commercial finance solutions through direct expert brokerage teams.

Product overview

SRT & Partners is a specialist insurance and finance group that operates as a holding company with a portfolio of four distinct subsidiary brands. The group provides a unified platform combining corporate insurance broking (via Readhunt and First Business Protection) and commercial asset finance solutions (via First Business Finance and First Equine Funding). This integrated approach enables commercial clients to access tailored insurance and finance solutions through a single partnership, with specialized market access to Lloyd's and the London Market. The portfolio companies deliver sector-specific expertise across construction, haulage, manufacturing, logistics, and equine industries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Readhunt: UK-based insurance broker providing tailored commercial insurance solutions across sectors like construction, haulage, manufacturing, and logistics
• First Business Finance
• First Business Protection
• First Equine Funding

Products and services

• Readhunt Commercial Insurance Broking UK-based insurance broker established in 2002 providing tailored commercial insurance solutions across sectors including construction, haulage, manufacturing, and logistics, with direct access to Lloyd's of London and the London Market for placing complex and unusual risks.
• First Business Finance Asset Finance Brokerage Leading UK asset finance brokerage established in 2008 providing tailored funding solutions for a wide range of business assets, working with a panel of trusted lenders to offer competitive, flexible finance designed to support business growth.
• First Business Protection Commercial Insurance Commercial insurance provider offering competitive, comprehensive solutions across all commercial classes by leveraging deep sector expertise and access to the wider insurance market, including Lloyd's and the London Market.
• First Equine Funding Equine Asset Finance Brokerage Specialist equine asset finance brokerage providing flexible, tailored funding solutions for everything from horseboxes to thoroughbreds, serving clients across the equestrian world.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Readhunt LtdcoreOthersEstablished in 2002, Readhunt is a UK-based insurance broker providing tailored commercial insurance solutions across sectors including construction, haulage, manufacturing, and logistics. Readhunt holds Lloyd's of London Broker registration, providing access to major markets.
• First Business Finance LtdcoreOthersEstablished in 2008, First Business Finance is a leading UK asset finance brokerage providing tailored funding solutions for a wide range of assets, working with trusted lenders to offer competitive, flexible finance designed to support business growth.
• First Business Protection LtdsupportingOthersFirst Business Protection Ltd was established to meet growing client demand for a fresh approach to commercial insurance, offering competitive, comprehensive solutions across all commercial classes by leveraging deep sector expertise and access to the wider insurance market, including Lloyd's and the London market.
• First Equine FundingsupportingOthersFirst Equine Funding is a specialist equine asset finance brokerage combining industry expertise and passion for horses to provide flexible, tailored funding solutions for everything from horseboxes to thoroughbreds, helping clients across the equestrian world achieve their goals.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Aston Lark: UK commercial insurance broker formed via roll-up of specialist regional brokers, focused on SME and mid-market clients. Highly comparable as a roll-up consolidator of niche commercial insurance brokerages with multi-brand structure, mirroring SRT's acquired-brand model.
• Howden Insurance Group: UK-headquartered specialty insurance broker serving SMEs and mid-market commercial clients across property, casualty, and specialty lines. Direct competitor to Readhunt/First Business Protection, with overlapping target customers and similar relationship-led positioning.
• Shire Leasing: UK asset finance brokerage arranging funding solutions for business assets via a panel of lenders. Closely comparable to First Business Finance's commission-based asset finance intermediation model.
• Henry Howard Finance: UK asset finance broker arranging equipment and business asset funding through lender panels. Direct comparable to First Business Finance in business model, customer profile, and revenue mechanics.
• Bluefin Insurance Group: UK commercial insurance broker serving mid-market and SME clients with sector specialisms and Lloyd's/London Market access. Comparable positioning to SRT's Readhunt, with similar relationship-led model and Lloyd's placement capability.
• PIB Group: UK insurance broker roll-up operating multi-brand platform serving commercial clients across specialist sectors. Closely comparable operating model — acquisition-led growth of specialist broker brands retained under a holding structure.

Broad incumbents

• Ardonagh Group: One of the largest UK insurance broker groups, formed through aggressive consolidation of commercial and consumer brokers. Competes for the same SME/mid-market clients and is an active acquirer of the same niche broker targets SRT may pursue.
• Marsh Commercial: UK SME-focused arm of Marsh, the global insurance broker. Competes for the same commercial SME insurance placements as Readhunt, with deeper resources but the 'impersonal consolidated broker' positioning SRT explicitly targets.
• Close Brothers Asset Finance: UK asset finance provider serving SME and mid-market business customers. Adjacent competitor to First Business Finance, representing the lender-side of the panel relationships SRT brokers into.

Emerging players

• Acrisure: US-headquartered global insurance broker built through aggressive roll-up of regional and specialist agencies. Comparable trajectory to SRT's PE-backed roll-up thesis, though at vastly greater scale and with a technology-orientation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/srt-partners

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SRT & Partners