What iprism Underwriting does

iprism Underwriting is a UK-based independent Managing General Agent (MGA) headquartered in London that underwrites and distributes specialist commercial and high net worth insurance on behalf of A-rated UK capacity providers. Founded in 2005 as an electronic wholesaler, the company has evolved into a multi-vertical specialist MGA serving three core markets: construction (Trades & Professions, Contractors Combined, Contractors All Risks, and Excess of Loss), property (Residential, Commercial, and Unoccupied Property Owners), and private clients (High Value Home). Its underwriting proposition is explicitly focused on non-standard and complex risks that fall outside standard policy criteria, leveraging delegated underwriting authority from twelve or more A-rated capacity providers including QBE, Tokio Marine, Beazley, Zurich, Lancashire, Arch, Convex, SCOR, HSB, Amtrust, Arag, Eccles, and Lloyd's syndicates (via Lloyd's Coverholder status granted in 2016).

The company operates a cloud-based underwriting and distribution technology stack anchored by Quota, a proprietary 24/7 online broker portal that delivers instant quotes, point-of-sale policy documentation, and online renewals. Quota is augmented by integrations with the Acturis and SSP broker platforms (joined 2022), enabling brokers to access Iprism products through whichever channel they prefer; email submission remains available for complex risks. The company is FCA-regulated (firm reference 460209) and holds Lloyd's Coverholder status, supporting both its institutional credibility and its capacity footprint.

Iprism is privately held following a 2021 management buyout led by CEO Ian Lloyd, who has led the business as Managing Director/CEO since 2018. Its revenue model is commission-based: the company collects premiums through its broker distribution channels and earns commission income and delegated underwriting authority fees from capacity providers. Customers are UK insurance brokers serving commercial contractors, landlords, and high-net-worth individuals — a B2B2C distribution model that requires no direct consumer marketing. The company has grown in part through acquisitions of Metier Trading Limited (2022) and SK Underwriting Limited (2023), and recent milestones include Chartered Insurance status (2024), appointment as BIBA's High Net Worth Scheme Provider (2024), and a rebrand (May 2025) to a solutions-led MGA positioning.

Name

iprism Underwriting

Legal name

Iprism Underwriting Agency Limited

Website

https://iprism.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

iprism Underwriting is an independent UK Managing General Agent (MGA) underwriting construction, property, and private client insurance for UK brokers. It distributes via its Quota portal and Acturis/SSP platforms, intermediating between brokers and A-rated capacity providers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Insurance Underwriting

NAICS

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

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)

akta.pro primary industry

Insurance Program Administration & MGA/MGU Services (FSAEADAK)

Keywords

• Commercial insurance underwriting
• Managing general agent
• Specialty insurance products
• Construction insurance MGA
• High net worth insurance

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Insurance Underwriting Premiums: Iprism acts as a Managing General Agent (MGA), underwriting insurance policies on behalf of A-rated UK-based insurers. Revenue is generated through premiums collected from brokers and policyholders, with Iprism earning commissions and delegated underwriting authority fees from capacity providers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Iprism Underwriting Agency Limited is an independent UK-based Managing General Agent (MGA) that underwrites and distributes specialist commercial and personal insurance products on behalf of A-rated UK insurers. It offers construction, property, and private client (high-net-worth) lines through its proprietary Quota online portal, the Acturis and SSP broker platforms, and direct email submissions. The company operates as a Lloyd's Coverholder and acts as the intermediary between capacity providers and insurance brokers.

Product overview

Iprism Underwriting is a Managing General Agent (MGA) offering a portfolio of specialist insurance products across three core segments: Construction (Trades & Professions, Contractors Combined, Contractors All Risks, and Excess of Loss), Property (Residential Property Owners, Commercial Property Owners, and Unoccupied Property Owners), and Private Clients (High Value Home). The company distributes through its proprietary online portal 'Quota' (24/7 availability), as well as via broker platforms Acturis and SSP, and direct email. Products are underwritten on behalf of multiple A-rated, UK-based insurers. The company has grown through acquisitions (SK Underwriting Limited in 2023, Metier Trading Limited in 2022) and became BIBA's High Net Worth Scheme provider in 2024.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Trades & Professions Insurance product tailored for small businesses, sole traders, and contractor clients working at third-party locations or performing clerical tasks from home. Automatically covers Public and Products Liability and Legal Expenses, with optional extensions for Employers' Liability, Contract Works, Own Plant, Hired-in Plant, Tools and Business Equipment. Distributed via the Quota portal to UK insurance brokers.
• Contractors Combined Insurance product for larger or more complex construction contractor risks, covering Property Damage, Business Interruption, Public and Products Liability, Employers' Liability, Contractor's All Risks, Engineering Breakdown, Terrorism, and Legal Expenses, with extensions for enhanced height/depth limits, subcontractor payments, defective workmanship, and professional indemnity.
• Contractors All Risks

Quantifiable outcome

• 24-hour response times for broker queries
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ActuriscoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology platform integration allowing Iprism products to be distributed through Acturis broker network. Joined Acturis panel in 2022.
• SSPcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology platform integration allowing Iprism products to be distributed through SSP broker network. Joined SSP panel in 2022.
• BIBAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBritish Insurance Brokers' Association - Iprism appointed as BIBA's High Net Worth Scheme Provider in 2024, highlighting expertise and dedication to serving high-net-worth clients.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Pen Underwriting: UK-based Managing General Agent offering multi-line specialty underwriting through brokers across construction, property, and casualty lines. Highly comparable to Iprism as a UK MGA distributing exclusively through brokers via panel integrations.
• CFC Underwriting: Lloyd's-aligned specialist MGA underwriting on behalf of syndicates across commercial lines. Comparable to Iprism as a Lloyd's Coverholder with multi-vertical specialization and tech-enabled broker distribution.
• Plum Underwriting: UK MGA specializing in property and casualty lines for commercial brokers. Closely comparable to Iprism in its broker-only distribution model, A-rated capacity partnerships, and focus on non-standard/specialty risks.
• Accelerant: MGA platform providing capital, data, and infrastructure to specialty underwriters. Comparable to Iprism in its focus on empowering specialist underwriting via broker distribution and capacity provider relationships, though operating at a different scale and stage.
• LMJ (London Market Joint Arrangements): UK specialist underwriting outfits operating in the Lloyd's market space. Comparable to Iprism as smaller, specialist MGAs distributing through UK brokers on behalf of capacity providers.

Others

• Acturis: Technology platform provider for UK insurance brokers, of which Iprism is a panel member. Relevant as Iprism's distribution channel infrastructure partner rather than a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Howden Group: Global insurance broker with significant UK retail and specialty operations including MGA-style underwriting. Comparable to Iprism in broker distribution focus, though operating as a much larger incumbent.
• Hiscox: Specialist insurer with significant Lloyd's presence underwriting through UK brokers across commercial and high-net-worth lines. Overlaps with Iprism in HNW home insurance and specialty commercial risks distributed via brokers.
• Burns & Wilcox: Global specialty insurance MGA and wholesale broker with significant UK presence. Comparable to Iprism in MGA functions and broker distribution, but operates at much greater scale with broader geographic and product reach.
• Ardonagh Group: Major UK insurance broker group with MGA-like operations and platform integrations. Comparable as a UK broker and underwriting ecosystem, though significantly larger and more diversified than Iprism.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iprism-underwriting
• Xx.com/iprisminsurance

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries2 records

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 iprism Underwriting