Roots Contractor Insurance (RCI) has entered into a partnership with niche commercial insurer Peach to provide capacity for its suite of contractor business insurance products.
The agreement enables RCI to offer its policies, including professional indemnity (PI), public liability (PL), and employers’ liability (EL), through its proprietary online portal. The platform allows contractors to obtain quotes and bind cover in real time, with over 5,000 policyholders currently using the system.
RCI said that its platform provides instant quotations and the ability to purchase cover, while applications that require further review are handled by the company’s in-house team. Pete Willcocks (pictured above, left), co-founder and director of Vestura Group, RCI’s parent company, said, “Our business insurances can be quoted and then purchased via our website within minutes.”
He noted that occupations are categorised as ‘accept’ or ‘decline’, and where a referral is triggered, staff review cases manually to advise on suitable products and levels of cover.
RCI launched its contractor insurance range in 2020, following its establishment by the Vestura Group. Willcocks, who has held board roles at Qdos and Kingsbridge and previously founded Larsen Howie, noted that RCI sought a capacity provider with a consistent underwriting appetite.
“Since launching our contractor business insurances five years ago, our original capacity provider changed its appetite and was no longer able to meet our underwriting requirements. So, we started looking for an insurer who would be consistent in its appetite and coverage,” he said.
The partnership comes as RCI’s online portal integrates with its Contractor Compliance Portal (CCP), a system designed for recruiters placing contractors. The CCP, which facilitates contractual IR35 compliance, is now linked to the RCI platform to deliver automated quotes for PI, PL, and EL insurance underwritten by Peach.
Peach, meanwhile, views the collaboration as a strategic opportunity. Ryan Bendelow (pictured above, right), director of commercial at Peach, said, “We are delighted to be collaborating with RCI to provide a PI led insurance product aimed specifically at contractors.”
He explained that the scheme targets independent, professional contractors operating as limited companies with a turnover up to £350,000 and no more than two employees. Bendelow indicated that, while the scheme is currently small, the launch of the CCP could drive significant growth and provide a new revenue stream for both RCI and Peach.
Outside of this partnership, Peach has recently expanded its reach in the SME and specialist insurance market through a partnership with Starpeak, a digital distributor. Together, they launched an insurance product for creative professionals, including photographers, designers, and other creatives.
In addition to its work with Starpeak, Peach has collaborated with Yutree to launch a property owners binder. This product is aimed at brokers seeking swift cover or solutions for risks outside the conventional market.
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