Acies SME UK, the first managing general agent (MGA) established by Acies MGU in 2021, has expanded its SME insurance offering into the South West and the Midlands. This move follows the company’s initial operations in London and the South East.

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The South West region will be overseen by Kevin Wildman, while the Midlands will be managed by Natalie Brewster. Both Wildman and Brewster previously served as regional managers at Liverpool Victoria, bringing experience from their time with the insurer.

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John Sadler, managing director of Acies SME UK, stated, “this is the right time to expand the MGA nationally, offering brokers experienced local teams by reuniting the Liverpool Victoria team.”

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He noted that Liverpool Victoria had earned broker respect for more than a decade, citing its focus on relationship management, service, and consistency.

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The Midlands team for Acies SME now includes Jo Stretch, Jason Booth, and Mike Stanley, working alongside Brewster. In the South West, Wildman is joined by Teresa Southworth, Steve McGill, and Jamie Hartnell.

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Mark Heath (pictured above), CEO of Acies MGU, described the launch of Acies SME in these new regions as a component of the company’s broader strategic expansion.

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“Launching Acies SME into these two new regions is part of our overall strategic expansion – we launched our global CPE capabilities within Phoenix Specialty earlier this year, which followed our launch of Acies Specialist Schemes and we will be shortly announcing the launch of additional Acies MGAs and strategic activity in the US,” Heath said.

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The aforementioned Acies Specialist Schemes is another MGA focused on recruitment firms. The first product from this unit, led by senior underwriter Rachael Light, combines cover for professional indemnity, public liability, employers’ liability, property, and business interruption, and also addresses risks linked to contractual liabilities and overseas placements.

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These expansions come amid substantial growth in the UK SME insurance market, reaching approximately £15.5 billion in written premiums in 2023. This growth is driven by rising costs, supply chain challenges, and increased demand for specialised cover.

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