SME Insurance Services

What SME Insurance Services does

SME Insurance Services (smei) is a UK-based insurance broker and trading name of Marsh Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for General Insurance Distribution and Credit Broking (Firm Reference No. 307511). Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Leeds, the company specialises in commercial insurance products for UK small and medium-sized businesses, sole traders, and freelancers, distributing coverage through a panel of A-rated UK insurers.

The company's core offering consists of modular commercial insurance packages—including Public Liability, Employers Liability, Product Liability, Professional Indemnity, Personal Accident, and Business Buildings and Contents—combined into industry-specific products such as Shop and Retail Insurance, Hair and Beauty Insurance, Food and Drink Insurance, Hotels and B&Bs Insurance, Office and Surgery Insurance, Manufacturing and Wholesale Insurance, Event Insurance, Pet Carers Insurance, and Freelancers Insurance. Underlying technology is provided by the third-party Acturis platform, which powers online quoting, policy management, and a secure client portal; the company has also developed an Interactive High Street Tool offering advisory content and policy review calculators.

Revenue is generated primarily through insurance brokerage commissions from A-rated UK insurers, with pricing on a subscription/annual basis (typical minimums from £317 for Office and Surgery to £513 for Supermarket Insurance) and payment options including monthly direct debits, cards, and premium finance. The go-to-market combines phone-led inside sales with self-service online quoting and a Refer a Friend programme; the company claims an average 35% customer saving versus prior coverage and reports handling over 35,000 policies for UK small businesses.

Name

SME Insurance Services

Legal name

Marsh Ltd

Website

https://smeinsurance.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SME Insurance Services is a UK-based commercial insurance broker (trading name of Marsh Ltd) founded in 2002 that arranges tailored coverage for UK small businesses, sole traders, and freelancers across retail, hospitality, beauty, office, manufacturing, and pet care verticals via a panel of A-rated insurers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Leeds

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Insurance Brokerage Commissions: The company acts as an insurance broker, earning commissions from insurers when policies are placed. They search their panel of A-rated UK insurers to find the best coverage and price for customers, earning revenue from the insurance providers they work with.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SME Insurance Services is a UK-based insurance broker operating under Marsh Ltd that arranges commercial insurance packages for small and medium-sized enterprises, sole traders, and freelancers. It accesses a panel of A-rated UK insurers and distributes specialist insurance products (shop, hospitality, office, manufacturing, freelancer cover) primarily by phone and online quoting.

Product overview

SME Insurance Services (smei) is a UK-based insurance broker and trading name of Marsh Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The company provides a broad portfolio of small business insurance products and risk management services for UK SMEs, sole traders, freelancers, and limited company directors. The core offering consists of flexible, modular commercial combined insurance packages — including Business Buildings and Contents Insurance, Business Equipment Insurance, Employers Liability Insurance, Personal Accident Insurance, Product Liability Insurance, Professional Indemnity Insurance, and Public Liability Insurance — which can be supplemented by add-on covers such as Cyber Insurance, Stock Insurance, Loss of Money Insurance, and Legal Expenses Insurance. These core covers are then tailored into industry-specific package products including Shop and Retail Insurance, Hair and Beauty Insurance, Food and Drink Insurance, Hotels and B&Bs Insurance, Office and Surgery Insurance, Manufacturing and Wholesale Insurance, Event Insurance, Pet Carers Insurance, and Freelancers Insurance. The company also offers supplementary services such as a free Business Insurance Check and a Refer a Friend programme. As a broker, smei searches a panel of A-rated UK insurers to provide tailored quotes and policies, primarily distributed through its website and telephone advisers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Buildings and Contents Insurance

Quantifiable outcome

• Customers save an average of 35% when switching to SME Insurance Services
• +1 more outcomes

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Marsh Ltd (Parent Company)coreOthersSME Insurance Services (smei) is a trading name of Marsh Ltd, a global insurance broker and risk consultant. Marsh Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for General Insurance Distribution and Credit Broking (Firm Reference No. 307511). This relationship provides brand credibility, regulatory standing, and access to insurer relationships.
• ActuriscoreTechnology or IntegrationActuris is the technology platform powering SME Insurance Services' online quoting system and secure client portal. The platform enables digital insurance quotation, policy management, and document access for customers.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Simply Business: UK-based digital insurance broker focused exclusively on small and micro businesses across trades, retail, hospitality, and professional services. Directly comparable target market (UK SMEs), multi-carrier panel model, and online-first quoting approach similar to SMEi.
• Hiscox UK: UK insurer and broker specialising in small business and professional indemnity cover for SMEs, freelancers, and consultants. Comparable customer profile (UK SMEs, self-employed professionals) and overlapping product set including professional indemnity and public liability.
• Direct Line for Business: UK commercial insurance brand of Direct Line Group serving sole traders and small businesses across trades, retail, and hospitality. Comparable SME target market, multi-product commercial packages, and direct/online distribution model.
• Adrian Flux: UK independent insurance broker specialising in niche and non-standard commercial and personal lines for small businesses and individuals. Comparable specialist broker model, multi-insurer panel approach, and SME customer focus.

Broad incumbents

• NFU Mutual: Large UK mutual insurer and broker with deep specialisation in farms, rural businesses, and commercial SMEs. Comparable commercial SME product set (shop, office, liability covers) and UK market footprint, though broader portfolio and member-owned structure.
• Markel UK: UK arm of Markel International providing specialist commercial and SME insurance including liability, professional indemnity, and trade-related cover. Comparable product overlap with smei's liability-led package offerings and UK SME customer focus.
• Howden UK: UK insurance broker with significant SME and mid-market commercial broking operations across retail, hospitality, and professional services. Comparable multi-vertical SME coverage and broker-driven distribution model.
• Towergate Insurance Brokers: Large UK general insurance broker serving SMEs, trades, and retail/hospitality businesses. Comparable UK multi-vertical SME target market and broker intermediation model, though at significantly larger scale.

Emerging players

• Superscript: UK-based insurtech and digital broker providing small business insurance with customisable policies and instant online quotes. Comparable SME target customer, online-first distribution, and modular product design (liability, cyber, professional indemnity).
• Zego: UK insurtech offering flexible commercial insurance for SMEs, gig economy workers, and small fleets. Comparable UK small-business target and digital-first broker model, though with a stronger mobility/usage-based specialisation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SMEInsurance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sme-insurance-services-ltd

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 SME Insurance Services