Touchstone Underwriting

Touchstone Underwriting: Everything you need to know

About Touchstone Underwriting

Touchstone Underwriting Limited is an MGA regulated and authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), specialising in niche, hard-to-place risks, and general insurance. It holds key partnerships with major industry players, including AXA, Aviva, Allianz, and ABTA.

The business operates out of offices in Watford, Chelmsford, Dumfries, Plymouth and the city of London and underwrites on behalf of A-rated carriers for its brokers throughout the UK. To offer full support to its brokers, the business also has regional business development managers based in the South West and Wales, the North East and the North West, Scotland and London.

Apart from offering scheme and DUA management, Touchstone Underwriting’s primary product range includes:

• Commercial combined and packages for different sectors
• Coverage for hotels and restaurants
• Commercial, residential, niche and mid-market property owners’ insurance
• Coverage for roofers, scaffolders and general contractors
• Specialist casualty insurance policies, such as marine cargo and specialist products liability
• Liability and office cover for tour operators and travel agents

They also cover ancillary products, including management liability, excess-of-loss, terrorism, engineering, and legal expenses insurance.

Touchstone Underwriting prides itself on its dedicated broker support team being on call whenever required – which helps the business to build relationships with its brokers – and its IT platform – which has been designed to optimise accuracy and efficiency.
 

History of Touchstone Underwriting

Touchstone Underwriting, which also trades under the TUL and Touchstone brands, has been trading since 2007 and is continually looking to develop and evolve its business model to meet the needs of its brokers and clients. This MGA, which is part of the Seventeen Group, was granted Lloyd’s coverholder status in May 2017.

In 2017 and 2018, Touchstone Insurance was voted one of the nation’s top-rated MGAs in Insurance Business’ ‘Brokers on MGAs’ report.

Leadership at Touchstone Underwriting

Mike Patston – Managing Director

Patston had worked with Touchstone for over nine years as a director before being promoted to managing director in 2025. He is responsible for the overall performance of the business. His aim is to make this business the underwriting agency of choice for brokers.

Glen Gibbons – Underwriting Manager 

Gibbons has worked with Touchstone for 10 years. He is responsible for leading the underwriting team and overseeing binder performance.

Culture at Touchstone Underwriting

Touchstone Underwriting is built on several core values which are instrumental to its continued development. Central to these is the importance of treating customers fairly. The business highlights the quality of its experienced underwriters and the accessibility of these staff who work across a wide range of products.

Other essential values for the MGA include:

• Professionalism and honesty in everything it does
• Rewarding loyalty both at customer and staff levels
• Offering customer service that puts customers at the heart of the business
• Committing to teamwork as the lynch pin of what makes the business succeed
• Ensuring integrity underpins the way the business works, communicates and acts
• Offering knowledge and expertise through all its specialisms

Touchstone nominates a charity to sponsor every couple of years and the MGA take part in and holds a number of fundraisers including various events such as golf days, gin tasting and luncheons.