Insurance Times Awards finalist 2020 Q&A: Property Initiatives Underwriting Agency sees business boom this year

Here we feature Property Initiatives Underwriting Agency’s (PIUA) entry into MGA Initiative of the Year

PIUA entered its business proposition and growth

What key achievement did your entry highlight

PIUA (Property Initiatives Underwriting Agency) is only five years old and 16 people strong, but it punches above its weight, with a reputation for covering the people, places and properties others can’t.

Since 2017 we’ve quadrupled the properties on our books, and we continue to grow – including through the pandemic. 2020 to date business is 32% up, and we’ve maintained an 80+% retention rate - proving clients like what we do.

Can you share data or testimonials to back up your bid to win?

”The policy wordings offer wide cover backed up by rated paper. The PIUA team offer excellent service,” Steve Duffy, managing director, Ashgrove Insurance

“We love the access to quick decisions, exceptional turnarounds, sensible underwriting and the flexibility of their appetite,” Matthew Bloomhill, managing director, Bloomhill Insurance Solutions

“The team at PIUA go that bit further to help out and understand the pressures we’re under,” David Llewellyn, director, Dobson & Hodge Insurance Brokers

“Buy to let’s, business parks or blocks of flats we never seem to have an issue, PIUA always get the job done,” Russell Hogarth, managing director, Richard V Wallis Insurance Brokers

What sets your firm apart from the other shortlisted contenders?

We put brokers at the heart of everything we do. We prove every day that small and nimble is mighty, that the personal touch matters, that niche is necessary - and that the art of manual underwriting is alive and kicking.

PIUA started out with a mission to make property underwriting uncomplicated and memorable.

We’ve built a name for ourselves taking on unusual risks, building great relationships, creating exclusive binders and wordings - and delivering a quote nine times out of ten. We’ve proud to be known industry-wide for our knowledge, agility, and reliability.

How will you celebrate if you are the victor?

It’s our people that make PIUA special, because they genuinely love what they do, and love doing it well. They’ve gone above during lockdown.

Winning this award would mean so much to everyone - including our customers and brokers.

Our mantra is #oneteam, and we’ll often celebrate the week’s successes on a Friday night with a glass of vino – even if we’re only able to do it over Microsoft Teams.

If we won, we’d definitely be celebrating together – with a slice of socially distanced cake for those in the office, and Microsoft Teams drinks and a bit of a party to follow!