What Connect Insurance Brokers does

Connect Insurance Brokers Ltd is an independent UK general insurance broker founded in August 1989 and headquartered at Connect House, Foundry Street, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, with a second office in Derby. The firm operates as a privately held, FCA-authorised intermediary (Financial Services Register number 310683) and is led by founding director Vivienne Gilroy, who previously held the presidency of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Stoke-on-Trent. Connect places retail and SME business with a panel of more than 80 UK underwriters — including AXA, LV, and Berkshire Hathaway — earning commissions on premiums as its core revenue stream.

The firm distributes 75-plus insurance products across three primary segments: Personal Lines (private car, household, travel, van, motorbike, minibus, young driver and Morgan Sports Car cover); Commercial Motor (taxi, Uber, fleet, motor trade, driving school, courier, truck, and chauffeur insurance); and Commercial SME (landlord, residential property, shop, office, drone, food and drink, commercial property, cyber liability, and intellectual property cover), with add-on modules for legal protection, breakdown, gap, key care, and personal accident. Distribution is sales-led, combining telephone-based inside sales, face-to-face consultations at the two physical offices, and online quote request forms; there is no consumer-facing app and no public API. Specialty lines (young drivers, Morgan Sports Cars, taxi) and adjacent services such as Consumer Duty compliance support are delivered through partnerships with iKube, Morgan Sports Car Club, Taxi Alliance, Create Solutions, Davies Group, and Motor Data Solutions.

The operating model is a traditional, relationship-driven brokerage rather than a technology platform: no AI/ML or proprietary underwriting technology is disclosed, product breadth and underwriter panel depth substitute for technological differentiation, and physical branch presence plus multi-channel marketing (blog, social media, events including BIBA and the CII Annual Dinner, plus Stoke City sponsorship) anchor regional brand recognition in the Midlands. Revenue mechanics are entirely commission-based with quote-priced premiums that vary by individual risk profile, billed annually; no public revenue is disclosed and the firm has taken no outside funding.

Name

Connect Insurance Brokers

Legal name

Connect Insurance Brokers Ltd

Website

https://connect-insurance.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Connect Insurance Brokers Ltd is an independent UK insurance broker founded in 1989, offering 75-plus personal and commercial products through 80-plus UK underwriter relationships and serving consumers and SMEs primarily across the Midlands from offices in Stoke-on-Trent and Derby.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Insurance Brokerage Services

NAICS

Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (52421)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial Lines Insurance Brokerage (FSAEADAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Retail (Personal Lines) Insurance Brokerage (FSAEADAA)

Keywords

• Insurance brokerage services
• Personal motor insurance
• Commercial vehicle insurance
• Independent insurance broker
• Business insurance coverage

Headquarters

HQ city

Hanley

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Insurance Brokerage Commissions: Connect Insurance earns commissions from insurance underwriters for placing business. As an independent broker, they represent multiple insurers and receive brokerage fees or commissions based on premiums placed.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Connect Insurance Brokers is an independent UK insurance broker that places personal and commercial insurance policies on behalf of customers through relationships with more than 80 UK-based underwriters. It distributes over 75 distinct insurance products spanning personal motor (car, van, motorbike, minibus, young driver), household, travel, commercial motor (taxi, fleet, motor trade, courier, truck, chauffeur, driving school, Uber), and commercial SME covers (landlord, shop, office, drone, cyber, food and drink, commercial property, intellectual property, liability). Revenue is earned through commissions paid by insurers for business placed, with customers served via telephone, in-branch, and online quote channels across the Midlands and wider UK.

Product overview

Connect Insurance Brokers is an independent UK insurance broker offering over 75 different insurance products across personal lines and commercial segments. The core offering spans personal motor insurance (Private Car, Van, Motorbike, Minibus), household coverage (Buildings and Contents), travel insurance, and specialist young driver programs. Commercial insurance includes motor trade, taxi, fleet, courier, truck, and driving school motor insurance, plus SME coverage for landlords, shops, offices, restaurants, drones, and cyber liability. The company also offers 75+ personal and commercial insurance products along with add-on coverage modules including legal protection, breakdown cover, gap cover, and personal accident insurance. Products are distributed through independent broker relationships with UK-based insurance underwriters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Private Car Insurance
• Household Insurance
• Travel Insurance
• Van Insurance
• Motorbike Insurance
• Minibus Insurance
• Young Drivers Insurance
• Temporary Insurance
• Motor Trade Insurance
• Taxi Insurance
• Uber Insurance
• Fleet Insurance
• Driving School Insurance
• Courier Insurance
• Truck Insurance
• Chauffeur Insurance
• Landlord Insurance
• Residential Property Insurance
• Shop Insurance
• Office Insurance
• Public and Employers Liability Insurance
• Drone Insurance
• Food and Drink Insurance
• Commercial Property Insurance
• Cyber Insurance
• Intellectual Property Insurance
• Morgan Sports Car Insurance

Quantifiable outcome

• Strong personal relationships with a vast range of UK based Insurance Underwriters allow offering competitive premiums

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and support.

• Stoke City FC / SageminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 28 November 2025Named Stoke City's local winner in Sage's national 'Behind the Badge' initiative celebrating independent businesses that strengthen community fabric through local sponsorship.
• Taxi AlliancecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2023Promoted latest taxi insurance scheme at exclusive Taxi Alliance event in April 2023. Partnership with Birmingham and Solihull Taxi Association for distribution of taxi insurance products.
• Morgan Sports Car ClubsupportChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2017Appointed as official Morgan Sports Car Club insurance provider, offering specialist coverage for Morgan vehicle owners with exclusive benefits.
• UK Insurance Underwriters (80+)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnect Insurance maintains relationships with over 80 different UK-based insurance underwriters including major providers such as AXA and LV. These partnerships enable the broker to offer competitive premiums and comprehensive coverage options across all product lines.
• Davies GroupsupportTechnology or IntegrationDavies Group was appointed to manage underwriting administration and claims handling following Tradewise Insurance Services ceasing trading. They provide customer service and policy administration support.
• Motor Data Solutions (MDS)supportTechnology or IntegrationAppointed to facilitate vehicle changes and updates to the Motor Insurance Database (MID) through the MIDAS service, replacing previous Tradewise systems.
• Berkshire Hathaway International Insurance LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe ultimate insurer responsible for providing insurance coverage on Tradewise policies. Berkshire Hathaway remains liable for claims payments even after Tradewise administration ceased.
• Create SolutionssupportImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsulting partner assisting with Consumer Duty regulation implementation, helping ensure compliance with FCA requirements.
• iKubesupportStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with iKube for young driver insurance products, enabling Connect to offer competitive quotes for drivers under age 25.
• The Donna Louise Children's HospiceminorOthersPrimary charity partner receiving regular donations through weekly Dress Down initiatives and annual fundraising events. Connect has raised significant amounts including £1,238 presented in 2017 and over £1,000 through various events.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• A-Plan Insurance: UK-based independent insurance broker with multi-line personal and commercial offerings, comparable high-street distribution model, and similar SME focus. Directly comparable on independent broker positioning and product breadth.
• Bollington Insurance Brokers: UK independent insurance broker offering commercial and personal lines, with comparable multi-underwriter approach and mid-market commercial focus. Directly comparable on independent broker positioning and SME commercial specialism.
• Bennetts: UK specialist motorbike insurance broker with direct-to-consumer distribution. Comparable on niche motor specialism, multi-underwriter panel model, and dedicated branding for a specific vehicle class.
• Adrian Flux: UK specialist insurance broker focused on niche and non-standard personal lines including motorbike, young driver, and imported vehicles. Comparable on specialist broker positioning and bespoke coverage for harder-to-place risks.
• One Call Insurance: UK broker focused on motor and home insurance products distributed via telephone and online channels. Comparable on UK personal lines motor focus and commission-based revenue model, though with a more telephone-led sales motion.
• Swinton Group: Long-established UK high-street insurance broker with multi-channel personal and commercial lines distribution. Highly comparable on independent broker model, physical branch presence, and broad product catalogue serving UK consumers and SMEs.
• Keith Michaels Insurance Brokers: Mid-sized UK independent insurance broker offering personal and commercial lines including specialist commercial motor. Comparable on independent broker positioning, regional UK footprint, and multi-product portfolio with underwriter panel access.
• Carole Nash: UK specialist broker with deep concentration in motorbike and motor trade insurance, with bespoke coverage for niche vehicle owners. Highly comparable on specialist commercial motor focus and dedicated panel of niche underwriters.

Broad incumbents

• Howden Insurance Brokers (UK): Large UK broking group offering personal and commercial lines across the country, including specialist commercial motor. Comparable on product breadth and commercial motor focus, but operates at significantly greater scale with broader geographic coverage.
• Towergate Insurance Brokers: Large UK insurance broker offering personal and commercial lines including commercial motor and SME products. Comparable on product breadth but operates at much larger scale with national branch network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/connect_insure
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCicoP-HcCSu8yBFHtiKRZdw
• Facebookfacebook.com/cibltd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/connect-insurance-brokers-ltd
• Instagraminstagram.com/connectinsurance1989

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Connect Insurance Brokers