UK General Insurance 2025: Award-Winning Insurers Shine Amidst Challenges

The UK General Insurance (UKGI) marketplace is navigating a myriad of complications, from rising claims inflation to stringent scrutiny from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), all compounded by political and geopolitical uncertainties. In this tumultuous environment, insurers face significant hurdles, yet some have excelled, showcasing remarkable resilience and underwriting prowess.

Celebrating Excellence: Insurance DataLab Underwriting Gold Awards 2025

In light of the continuing challenges, Insurance Times is proud to announce the winners of the Insurance DataLab Underwriting Gold Awards for 2025. This year’s exceptional recipients have demonstrated outstanding performance in underwriting amidst a highly competitive market.

Award Winners Overview

The winners hail from UK-based insurers, Gibraltar-based firms, and Lloyd’s syndicates. They have achieved exceptional results based on three key metrics:

• Underwriting performance over the last year
• Three-year underwriting performance
• Overall improvement in underwriting performance

For UK insurers, data from the latest Solvency and Financial Condition Reports is used to calculate Combined Operating Ratios (COR), while Lloyd’s syndicates are evaluated based on their performance relative to Gross Written Premium (GWP).

For detailed scoring methodology, refer to Insurance Times’ Top 50 Insurers 2025 report.

Top Performers in UK General Insurance

1. HCC International

Leading the charge, HCC International garnered the highest underwriting score of 84% among UK-registered general insurers. With an impressive COR of 58.9% and a rating of 82.3%, HCC achieved a remarkable COR improvement rating of 95%. This marks their debut at the top of the underwriting rankings, previously securing a gold award in 2021.

2. Convex UK

Following closely, Convex UK achieved an overall underwriting rating of 81%. Their performance was buoyed by a COR of 67.5% for 2024/25, leading to a staggering 31 percentage point increase compared to the previous year, thus scoring 95% for COR improvement.

3. Starr International (Europe)

In third place, last year’s winner Starr International recorded an overall underwriting rating of 79%. While it maintained high performance metrics, it experienced challenges in COR improvement, which limited its repeat as the top overall insurer.

Runner-Up Insurers Excelling in Underwriting

Several insurers performed admirably, each showcasing strong fundamentals:

• Markel International achieved an overall score of 77%, with a COR rating of 75% and impressive improvements from the previous year.
• Ageas Insurance scored 75%, an outcome of disciplined underwriting practices.
• Arch Insurance UK and Ecclesiastical scored 72%, indicating steady performance through consistent improvements.

Admiral (UK)

Admiral rounded off the UK award winners with just under 72%, demonstrating a stabilizing trajectory in the market.

Gibraltar Insurance Winners

1. Argus Insurance (Europe)

Leading in Gibraltar, Argus Insurance reached an overall underwriting rating of 79%. It excelled with a COR of 66.6% and notable improvement year-on-year.

2. Marshmallow

Marshmallow made its debut as a gold award recipient with an overall rating of 74% driven by significant improvements in profitability.

3. Red Sands Insurance (Europe)

Taking third place, Red Sands Insurance showcased solid performance metrics, reaching an overall score of 70%.

Celebrating Lloyd’s Syndicates

Aegis-managed Syndicate 1225

Leading the Lloyd’s nominees with an overall rating of 74%, Syndicate 1225 delivered strong underwriting results, outperforming competitors with balanced metrics.

Lancashire-managed Syndicate 3010

Close behind, Syndicate 3010 achieved an overall score of just under 74%, sustaining its competitive edge through consistent performance.

Additional Syndicate Winners

Syndicate 2010 and Beazley’s Syndicate 2623 remained front-runners, supported by stable improvements and strong underwriting performance.

Conclusion: A Competitive Landscape Ahead

Despite a challenging environment, the winners of the Insurance DataLab Underwriting Gold Awards for 2025 demonstrate that success is attainable in the UKGI marketplace. As the industry continues to evolve, these insurers set a benchmark for excellence, resilience, and improvement, ensuring they are well-positioned to meet future challenges.

For a comprehensive look at the top performers and the evolving insurance landscape, stay tuned to Insurance Times for updates and insights.