Castle Insurance Services

What Castle Insurance Services does

Castle Insurance Services is a United Kingdom-based insurance brokerage founded in 1993, headquartered at 15 Marshall Terrace, Gilesgate, Durham. It serves individual consumers and small-to-medium enterprises in the Northeast of England — specifically County Durham and surrounding communities including Sherburn Village, Meadowfield, and West Rainton — arranging personal and commercial insurance coverage including car, home, travel, equine, pet, income protection, boat/yacht, landlord, and private client insurance on the personal side, and cyber, liability and indemnity, directors and officers, fleet, property owners, business interruption, legal expenses, agriculture, construction, taxi, group health, group risk, and trade credit products on the commercial side. The firm also provides risk management advisory services.

The company's product portfolio is arranged via a commission-based brokerage model, with revenue generated through placement of business with insurance carriers rather than underwriting risk directly. Distribution is sales-led and direct: customers obtain quotes via phone, email, in-person consultation at the Durham office, or through an online "Get a Quote" function on the website, with policy management handled through a customer login portal operated on the Acturis platform within Brown & Brown's digital infrastructure. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, and engagements are typically multi-year contracts.

In 2023, Castle Insurance Services — along with EW Knapton Insurance — was acquired by Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE: BRO), a major US-listed insurance broker. The acquired entity now operates as a trading location under Brown & Brown Insurance Brokers (UK) Limited (FCA Reference Number 745618), branded "Brown & Brown, Durham," with access to the parent's broader carrier partnerships, enhanced product set, and group-level risk management resources. The firm retains its 30+ year local presence and relationship-driven service model in the Northeast of England while now operating within a global brokerage network.

Name

Castle Insurance Services

Legal name

Brown & Brown Insurance Brokers (UK) Limited

Website

https://castleinsuranceservices.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Castle Insurance Services is a UK insurance brokerage based in Durham, serving individuals and SMEs across the Northeast of England with personal and commercial insurance products, now operating as Brown & Brown, Durham following its 2023 acquisition by Brown & Brown, Inc.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Insurance Brokerage

NAICS

Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (524210), Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (52421), Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities (5242)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Insurance Brokerage (Marine, Aviation, Cyber, Professional Lines) (FSAEADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Homeowners Insurance (FSAJACAA), First-Party Cyber (Breach Response, Forensics, Notification, Credit Monitoring) (FSAJAOAF), Landlord / Dwelling Fire (DP) Insurance (FSAJACAD)

Keywords

• Insurance brokerage
• Commercial insurance
• Personal insurance
• Risk management
• Business protection

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Insurance brokerage commissions: As an insurance broker, Castle Insurance Services earns commissions from insurance providers for placing business. They arrange comprehensive Business, Property, Travel and Motor Insurance solutions for customers, earning revenue through commission arrangements with insurance carriers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Castle Insurance Services is an insurance brokerage based in Gilesgate, Durham, arranging comprehensive Business, Property, Travel and Motor Insurance solutions for individuals and SMEs across the Northeast of England. The firm now operates as Brown & Brown, Durham following acquisition by Brown & Brown, Inc. in 2023, offering personal lines (car, home, travel, pet, equine, boat/yacht, income protection, private client) and commercial lines (cyber, liability, D&O, fleet, property owners, business interruption, legal expenses, trade credit, surety bonds), plus sector-specific coverage for agriculture, construction, taxi and events, and risk management advisory services.

Product overview

Castle Insurance Services, now operating as Brown & Brown Durham following acquisition and merger with EW Knapton Insurance, is a traditional insurance brokerage offering a comprehensive portfolio of personal and commercial insurance products. The company provides personal lines (car, home, travel, pet, equine, boat/yacht, income protection, and private client services) alongside business insurance solutions (cyber, liability, directors & officers, fleet, property owners, business interruption, legal expenses). The firm also offers sector-specific coverage for agriculture, construction, taxi, and events industries, plus employee benefits including group health, critical illness, and international health insurance. Services extend to trade credit, surety bonds, and risk management advisory. As part of the Brown & Brown network, the Durham office serves customers throughout the Northeast of England and the broader UK market.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Car Insurance Personal vehicle insurance coverage arranged for individual car owners in the Northeast of England and across the UK.
• Home Insurance Residential property insurance including coverage for thatch roofs, renovations, and underinsurance protection for homeowners.
• Travel Insurance Coverage for travel-related risks including medical emergencies abroad, trip cancellations, and lost baggage, for personal and business travellers.
• Pet Insurance Insurance coverage for veterinary expenses and pet health care for individual pet owners.
• Income Protection Personal insurance providing replacement income if the policyholder is unable to work due to illness or injury.
• Boat & Yacht Insurance Insurance coverage for water vessels including boats and yachts owned by individuals.
• Equine Insurance Specialised insurance coverage for horses and equestrian activities, including mortality, vet fees and liability.
• Private Client Insurance High-value insurance solutions for affluent individuals covering main residences, investment properties, holiday homes, fine art, private motor, building work, bloodstock, and farm and estate.
• Cyber Insurance Business coverage for cyber risks, data breaches, and digital threats arranged for SME clients.
• Liability & Indemnity Insurance Business coverage protecting against claims for injury or damage to third parties, including public liability and professional indemnity.
• Directors & Officers Insurance Coverage protecting company executives from personal liability arising from professional decisions.
• Business Vehicle / Fleet Insurance Commercial coverage arranged for business vehicles and fleets operated by SMEs.
• Property Owners Insurance Coverage for real estate owners and property managers.
• Business Interruption Insurance Coverage compensating businesses for lost income when operations are disrupted.
• Legal Expenses Insurance Coverage for legal costs and representation expenses for businesses.
• Agriculture Insurance Specialised insurance coverage for farming and agricultural businesses.
• Construction Insurance Coverage tailored for construction companies and contractors.
• Taxi Insurance Commercial coverage arranged for taxi and private hire vehicle operators.
• Group Risk Insurance Employee benefits coverage including group income protection arranged for businesses.
• Business Protection Insurance Coverage protecting business owners including executive income protection and key person insurance.
• Group Health Insurance Employee health benefits including business health insurance arranged for companies.
• Critical Illness Insurance Personal coverage providing lump sum payment upon diagnosis of specified critical illnesses.
• International Health Insurance Healthcare coverage for individuals living or working abroad.
• Trade Credit Insurance Coverage protecting businesses against non-payment by customers.
• Surety Bonds Financial guarantees ensuring contractual obligations are fulfilled for businesses.
• Landlord Insurance Coverage for property owners renting out residential or commercial properties.
• Risk Management Services Advisory services helping businesses identify and mitigate operational and financial risks, leveraging Brown & Brown's specialist risk management resources.

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Brown & Brown Insurance Brokers (UK) LimitedcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCastle Insurance Services (previously Castle Insurance & EW Knapton Insurance) has been acquired and rebranded as Brown & Brown, Durham. As part of Brown & Brown, the company now has access to strong insurance partnerships, enhanced insurance products, risk management resources, and specialised experience from a worldwide network of insurance professionals. Brown & Brown (UK) is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Aon UK: Global insurance and reinsurance broker with substantial UK operations. Comparable broker-of-record role for commercial risks, though Aon focuses on larger enterprise accounts than Castle's SME-led book.
• Marsh Ltd: UK arm of global broker Marsh McLennan. Overlaps with Castle on commercial insurance placement and risk advisory but serves larger corporate accounts at a different scale and price point.

Regional players

• NFU Mutual: UK mutual insurer and broker with a strong regional agency network across rural Britain. Comparable personal and commercial product breadth and a regional/local-service ethos to Castle, though anchored in the farming and rural segment.

Direct peers

• Hiscox UK: UK specialist insurer and broker covering small business, professional lines, and high-net-worth personal insurance (fine art, valuables). Overlaps with Castle's SME commercial and Private Client segments.
• Aston Lark: UK insurance broker (now part of Howden) serving SME, corporate, and private clients across the country. Comparable mid-market broker profile and product breadth to Castle's commercial and Private Client lines.
• Ardonagh Group: UK-headquartered insurance broker group operating retail, commercial, and specialty platforms (including Towergate). Directly comparable distribution model and customer mix to Castle's post-acquisition Brown & Brown positioning.
• Towergate Insurance: UK retail and commercial insurance broker with strong regional presence across the country. Closely comparable offering breadth (personal, commercial, specialty) and SME/individual customer base to Castle Insurance Services.
• Swinton Group: Long-established UK high-street insurance broker focused on personal lines (car, home) and SME commercial cover. Comparable target customer segments and product mix to Castle's core personal lines franchise in the Northeast.
• Howden Group Holdings: Large UK-domiciled insurance broker with a national retail and commercial network. Highly comparable to Castle as a multi-line broker serving personal and SME clients across the UK, though at materially larger scale.
• Simply Business: UK commercial insurance broker (now part of Travelers) specializing in SME business insurance. Comparable SME focus and broker-of-record model to Castle's commercial lines business, though predominantly digital-first in distribution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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 Castle Insurance Services