Getting a quote

How to brief an insurance broker, and send yours to us

A broker brief is a short written summary of your business and the cover you need, so a broker can approach insurers without a long back-and-forth. A good brief usually means faster quotes and terms that fit the risk.

Part of: Get a quote

In short

Tell the broker what the business does (with the split of activities), where you work, your fee income or turnover, the limit you need and why, your current cover and renewal date, any claims or circumstances, and when cover must start. If you use an AI assistant to write it up, ask it to mark anything you have not confirmed. Paste the finished brief into the box on this page and a broker will read it, usually the same working day. There is no fee for a quote.

What a good brief includes

Include	Why insurers ask
What the business does, with the split of activities in percentages	Insurers rate each activity differently; a split avoids the risk being rated on the most hazardous part.
Where you are registered, where you work and where your clients are	Jurisdiction and territorial limits, and whether any work touches the USA or Canada.
Fee income or turnover, last year and next 12 months, and staff numbers	The main rating factors for professional indemnity and most liability covers.
The limit you need, and the insurance clauses in your main contracts	Contracts often fix the limit, the basis (each and every claim or aggregate) and how long cover must be maintained.
Current insurer, renewal date and, for PI, your retroactive date	Continuity of cover for past work depends on the retroactive date carrying over.
Claims, complaints and circumstances in the last five years	Under the Insurance Act 2015 you must make a fair presentation of the risk before cover starts.
Anything unusual	Overseas registration, a new business, non-standard work or a hard-to-place activity. Saying so up front saves time.
When cover needs to start	Some clients will not let work start without a certificate.

Using an AI assistant to write it

Many people now ask an AI assistant to help them write up what they need. That works well if the assistant collects the facts from you rather than filling gaps itself. Copy this prompt into your assistant:

I need to brief a UK insurance broker for [type of cover, e.g. professional indemnity].
Ask me questions one at a time to collect:
1. What the business does, and the split of activities as percentages
2. Where we are registered, where we work and where our clients are
3. Fee income or turnover for last year and the next 12 months, and staff numbers
4. The limit of cover we need, and the insurance wording in our main contracts
5. Current insurer, renewal date and, for PI, our retroactive date
6. Claims, complaints or circumstances in the last five years
7. Anything unusual about the business
8. When cover needs to start
Then write a one-page brief under those headings. Do not invent figures:
mark anything I have not confirmed as "to confirm".

Check the finished brief before you send it. Insurers rely on what you tell them, so a figure an assistant has guessed can cause problems if there is a claim later.

Paste your brief

Paste your brief below. It goes to the broking team at Apex, not to a call centre.

Prefer email? Send it with any documents (current schedule, contract insurance clauses) to info@apexinsurancebrokers.co.uk.

What happens after you send it

A broker reads it, usually the same working day. Not an automated system: a member of the broking team reads every enquiry and decides who is best placed to handle it.
We come back with the questions insurers will ask. Usually the split of your activities, fee income or turnover, the limits your contracts require, claims history, your current cover and when you need cover to start. If your brief already answers these, this step is short.
We approach the insurers that fit your risk. Apex is independent and works across the market, including Lloyd’s through wholesale brokers, rather than a single panel.
You get the options side by side. We explain the differences in cover, not just the price, so you can see what you are choosing between.
Nothing is placed until you tell us. There is no fee for a quote or a review, and no obligation.

“I just wanted to say a big thank you for all your help in arranging my Professional Indemnity cover. You understood my situation straight away… and got everything moving very quickly. I’m really pleased with how smooth and fast the whole process has been, and will be glad to come back to Apex when it’s time to renew, or if I need any other cover in the future.”

Health and safety consultancy · Professional indemnity, new business

Common gaps that slow quotes down

No activity split. Without it, insurers may assume the riskiest version of what you do.
A limit with no reason. Say whether a contract requires it, and quote the clause.
Claims left out. Mention anything that could become a claim, even if nothing has been paid.
A start date that has already passed. If work has started, say so; cover for earlier work needs to be asked for, not assumed.

Frequently asked

Is there a fee to send a brief?

No. There is no fee for a quote and no obligation. Apex is remunerated in the normal way only if you choose to place cover through us, and we are transparent about that remuneration before you decide.

Will I still need to fill in a proposal form?

Usually yes. Most insurers need their own proposal form or a statement of fact. A good brief means the broker can prepare most of it for you to check, rather than starting from a blank form.

Can I send documents with my brief?

Yes. Email your current schedule, policy wording and any contract insurance clauses to info@apexinsurancebrokers.co.uk, mentioning that you also sent a brief through the website, and the broker will match them up.

Can an AI assistant send the brief for me?

An assistant can help you write it, but please send it yourself through this page or by email, and check the facts first. You are responsible for the information given to insurers, whoever drafted it.

Prefer to talk it through?

Call a broker or start an online quote. No fee for a quote. Or call 0117 325 0027.

Start a quote Call 0117 325 0027

Apex Insurance Brokers Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England and Wales, company number 07014570. This page is general information, not advice on your individual circumstances, and it does not guarantee that cover will be available or on what terms.