What Cliverton does

Cliverton is a UK specialist insurance brokerage, trading as a division of Lycett Browne-Swinburne & Douglass Limited, that underwrites exclusively animal-related commercial and personal lines. Founded in 1974 and headquartered in Fakenham, Norfolk, the firm serves sole traders, freelancers, and small businesses whose operations involve animals — including dog walkers, day-care operators, groomers, trainers, behaviourists, microchippers, pet physiotherapists, hydrotherapists, domestic animal breeders, falconers, animal-agency performers, equestrian operators (livery yards, riding schools, equine-assisted therapy, pony parties), kennels and catteries, animal rescues, pet shops and animal cafés, smallholdings, shoots and gamekeepers, pest-control firms, security businesses using working dogs, and membership clubs and breed societies. The product catalogue is organised as a matrix of industry-vertical policies — public liability, products liability, employers' liability, personal accident, equipment and property, professional indemnity, and bespoke covers such as 'loss of use for working dogs' developed with NASDU — supplemented by Cliverton Protect (stand-alone personal accident/illness), legal expenses, and household cover for home-based animal businesses.

The operating technology layer is the Acturis online portal (clivertonportal.acturis.com), which supports online quoting, purchase, mid-term adjustments, and document retrieval; this is a third-party broker platform rather than proprietary intellectual property. Multi-carrier capacity is drawn from Hiscox, Aspen, Markel International, and Ecclesiastical Insurance Office, with no captive underwriting vehicle. Distribution combines phone-based account handling (01328 857921, Mon–Fri 9am–5pm), self-serve online quoting, and an embedded referral channel with at least ten UK trade associations (notably the Pet Industry Federation offering a 10% public-liability discount to members, plus APDT, CHA, RBST, BPCA, NPTA, IMDT, TDT, NASDU, and NARCH), with marketing delivered through a content-led blog, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

Cliverton earns revenue primarily through brokerage commissions paid by underwriters as a percentage of placed premium (fully earned at policy inception), supplemented by policy administration fees of £10–£25 per policy at new business and renewal, and 13% interest on premium-finance direct-debit plans. The firm is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 310623) and is a Chartered Insurance Broker, sitting within the Benefact Group, an unusual owner whose corporate purpose is to distribute available profits to charity (£250m donated to over 10,000 charities to date per Directory of Social Change) and which provides balance-sheet stability and shared infrastructure across its family of specialist insurance brands.

Name

Cliverton

Legal name

Lycett Browne-Swinburne & Douglass Limited

Website

https://cliverton.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cliverton is a UK Chartered insurance broker, founded 1974 and headquartered in Fakenham, that provides specialist liability, personal accident, and bespoke covers (including 'loss of use for working dogs') to animal-related SMBs — dog walkers, groomers, kennels, equestrian businesses, pest controllers, security firms, shoots, and animal rescues. It distributes via phone, Acturis portal, and trade-association referrals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Insurance Brokerage

NAICS

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)

Keywords

• Animal business insurance
• Specialist insurance broker
• Equestrian business insurance
• Pet industry insurance
• Pest control insurance

Headquarters

HQ city

Fakenham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Insurance brokerage commissions: Cliverton earns commission from underwriters for placing insurance business. Commission is a percentage of the overall policy premium, received from insurers such as Hiscox Insurance Company Ltd, Aspen Insurance UK Services, Markel International Insurance Company Ltd, and Ecclesiastical Insurance Office plc. Commission is fully earned at policy placement.
2. Policy administration fees: Fees charged to cover costs involved in processing and setting up policies, applicable at new business and renewal: £25 for Public Liability Policy, £10 for Business legal support policy, £25 for Cliverton Protect policy, £25 for Private Home policy, £25 for Equestrian business policy (plus £25 additional for commercial premises/machinery/equipment cover). Mid-term adjustments and cancellations incur no fee.
3. Premium finance interest: Cliverton offers direct debit payment options through premium finance. A 13% interest rate is applied to the overall policy fee. Payment defaults result in a charge of up to £50.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cliverton is a specialist UK insurance broker providing tailored insurance policies exclusively for animal-related businesses and rural/countryside enterprises. Operating as a trading name of Lycett, Browne-Swinburne & Douglass Limited (FCA No. 310623), it places business with underwriters such as Hiscox, Aspen, Markel, and Ecclesiastical across categories including public/products/employers liability, property, personal accident, and a unique 'loss of use for working dogs' cover developed with NASDU.

Product overview

Cliverton is a specialist insurance broker providing a comprehensive portfolio of animal business insurance products. The offering is structured as a platform of distinct insurance products organized by industry segment: Animal Businesses (covering services like dog walking, grooming, training, and day care), Kennels and Catteries, Animal Rescues, Equestrian (including livery yards, riding schools, pony parties, and equine therapy), Rural and Countryside (smallholdings, gamekeeping, shoots), Clubs and Societies, Security, Pest Control, Legal Expenses, Household, and Cliverton Protect (personal accident add-on). Cliverton acts as an intermediary, sourcing coverage from multiple underwriters including Hiscox, Aspen, Markel, and Ecclesiastical, with over 50 years of experience in specialist animal business insurance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Animal Business Insurance Comprehensive insurance coverage umbrella for animal-related service businesses including dog day care, dog walking, grooming, training, pet sitting, microchipping, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, breeders, educational talks, falconry, and animal agency/film/TV work.
• Kennels and Catteries Insurance Specialist insurance for licensed boarding kennels and catteries covering animals in their care, public liability, equipment, and premises.
• Animal Rescues Insurance

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% customer satisfaction based on a monthly survey carried out by Benefact Group January-June 2025 (52 responses).

Named customers6 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Pet Industry Federation (PIF)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCliverton is proud to partner with the Pet Industry Federation to raise standards within the animal business industry and champion best practice. Cliverton supports PIF's annual awards which recognise individuals and businesses in the pet industry for dedication to animal welfare and commitment to pet business best practice. Cliverton offers PIF members a 10% discount on some public liability policies (subject to minimum premiums).
• NASDU (National Association of Security Dog Users)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCliverton worked closely with NASDU to develop the Cliverton 'loss of use for working dogs' policy, which provides cover should a specialist security dog become unable to work due to accident, theft, disappearance, or permanent injury. This is a unique policy developed specifically for NASDU members.
• APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAPDT is listed as a partner organisation on Cliverton's website. APDT promotes best practice in dog training and Cliverton supports trainers with specialist insurance coverage.
• CHA (Canine Hydrotherapy Association)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCHA is listed as a partner organisation. The association promotes standards in canine hydrotherapy and Cliverton provides specialist insurance for hydrotherapy businesses.
• RBST (Rare Breeds Survival Trust)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerRBST is listed as a partner and Cliverton supports rare breed conservation through its charitable donations as part of the Benefact Group, which has donated £250m to over 10,000 charities.
• NPTA (National Pest Technicians Association)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerNPTA is listed as a partner organisation. Cliverton provides specialist insurance for pest control businesses and NPTA members benefit from Cliverton's niche expertise in this area.
• BPCA (British Pest Control Association)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBPCA is listed as a partner organisation. Cliverton is highlighted as offering a member discount to BPCA members for pest control insurance, providing cover for deep cleaning, fumigation, disinfection, and pest control activities.
• TDT (Therapy Dog Training)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerTDT is listed as a partner organisation. TDT promotes best practice in therapy dog training and Cliverton provides specialist insurance for therapy dog businesses.
• IMDT (International Master Dog Trainer)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerIMDT is listed as a partner organisation. IMDT provides dog trainer education and Cliverton supports qualified trainers with insurance coverage.
• NARCH (National Association of Raptor Clubs)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerNARCH is listed as a partner organisation. Cliverton provides specialist insurance for falconry and raptor clubs, as well as raptor display businesses.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• NFU Mutual: NFU Mutual is a major UK mutual insurer with a large rural, smallholding, and equestrian book that overlaps with Cliverton's countryside segments. As a much larger, established incumbent, it competes on distribution scale and brand trust rather than niche specialism.
• Hiscox UK: Hiscox is one of Cliverton's underwriters but also sells directly to small and specialty UK businesses, including animal-related trades. As both partner and competitor, it is a relevant broad-incumbent comparable for specialty small-business insurance.
• Towergate Insurance Brokers: Towergate is a large UK commercial broker offering general small-business and specialty insurance. It is a broad incumbent that competes with Cliverton for general pet/animal business customers who may default to a generalist broker.
• Markel UK: Markel is a major UK specialty insurer and one of Cliverton's capacity partners. It competes more broadly in niche trades and professions, making it a relevant incumbent peer in the specialty insurance space.
• Howden UK (formerly Aston Lark): Howden is one of the UK's largest insurance brokers with specialty divisions spanning rural, equestrian, and small commercial lines. It is a broad incumbent peer that competes for larger animal-related commercial accounts that may outgrow Cliverton's niche.

Emerging players

• Superscript: Superscript is a UK insurtech offering on-demand, customisable business insurance for small businesses and freelancers. It overlaps with Cliverton's sole-trader and micro-SMB customers via a digital-first experience that challenges traditional broker-led distribution.
• Simply Business: Simply Business is a UK digital broker aggregating small-business insurance. It targets the same SMB animal-business customer with a self-serve, price-comparison model that competes with Cliverton's phone-and-portal approach on convenience and price transparency.

Direct peers

• Lycetts: Lycett, Browne-Swinburne & Douglass Ltd (trading as both Cliverton and Lycetts) operates from the same legal entity with overlapping rural, equestrian, and smallholding expertise. Although sister brands, Lycett's rural and equestrian portfolio is functionally a direct peer in adjacent product lines.
• KBIS (Kentucky Bloodstock and Insurance Services): KBIS is a UK specialist in equestrian, horsebox, and equine-related insurance. It directly competes with Cliverton's equestrian, riding school, livery yard, and pony party product lines.
• Petplan Business: Petplan's business division provides insurance products targeted at pet professionals, directly overlapping with Cliverton's core animal-business customer base. It is the most visible specialist competitor in the UK animal-business insurance category.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@clivertoninsurance
• Facebookfacebook.com/clivertoninsurance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cliverton
• Instagraminstagram.com/clivertoninsurance
• TikToktiktok.com/@clivertoninsurance
• Xx.com/clivertoninsure

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Cliverton