Specialist insurer announces plans to recruit 300 staff

A Merseyside motor insurance underwriter has announced expansion plans involving a recruitment drive for 300 staff.

Granite Underwriting, based in Formby, North Merseyside, specialises in serving the taxi industry.

Established in 1982, Granite comprises a number of brands which distribute specialist motor insurance, catering to drivers of private hire taxis, black taxis, Uber and other large operators in the sector, as well as specialist cover for private car and light commercial vehicles.

Its services are marketed through retail branches, price comparison websites, brokers, its own website and a call centre in Liverpool city centre.

The motor insurance market is estimated to be worth £16bn in the UK, with Granite underwriting more than £220m in 2017.

Granite is the clear market leader in the specialist space, with a 25% share of the UK taxi insurance market.

In January this year, Manchester-based Inflexion Private Equity completed a minority investment in Granite.

The firm said it will begin a recruitment drive for both it, and its direct insurance subsidiary firm, Acorn.

Granite is looking to expand across a range of functions at all levels including underwriting, actuarial, customer service, claims handling, finance and HR.

The company has recently appointed Jonathon Rhydderch as underwriting director and David Greaves as schemes and trading director following the appointment earlier this year of industry veteran Steve Ashton as non-executive chairman.

Steve is working with the board and the management team, led by founding shareholders Alan Keating and Martin Gowing, to support the company’s growth strategy and plans for further innovation.

Steve Ashton said: “I am very pleased to have assumed the role of non-executive chair at Granite and I look forward to working closely with Alan and the team to support the company’s ambitious growth plans.”

Co-founder and chief executive, Alan Keating, said: “I am pleased by the rapid pace at which our business continues to grow, underpinned by our ambitious expansion plans.

“I look forward to welcoming more highly capable people to the team as we continue our exciting growth journey.”

Click here to sign up to receive our new South West business news...
Close