Standing Strong When Everyone Else is Cutting Corners
Right, let’s talk about something we’re all feeling at the moment—this soft market everyone keeps mentioning. Premiums are under pressure, clients are shopping around more than ever, and it feels like everyone’s racing to the bottom on price. Sound familiar?
Here in Cardiff, we’ve been having plenty of conversations with mortgage brokers and small business owners who are scratching their heads about insurance right now. The good news? This isn’t about who can offer the cheapest quote anymore. It’s about who actually delivers when it counts.
It’s Not Just About the Price Tag
Look, we get it. When your client’s asking why their commercial property premium went up, or why their buy-to-let portfolio costs more to insure this year, the temptation is to find the cheapest option and call it a day. But here’s the thing—we’ve all seen what happens when someone goes for the bargain basement cover and then needs to make a claim.
The smart money isn’t on the lowest premium anymore. It’s on the insurer who’ll actually pick up the phone, process claims without a song and dance, and offer proper support when your world gets turned upside down.
Beyond the Policy Document
These days, the best commercial insurance providers are doing a lot more than just sending out a policy and hoping nothing goes wrong. We’re talking about:
Risk assessments that actually mean something – Not just a tick-box exercise, but proper advice on how to protect your business or property investment.
Prevention, not just cure – Some of our partners are now offering things like smart sensors for properties, disaster prep toolkits, even telematics for fleet insurance. It’s about stopping problems before they start.
Real support when you need it – Because there’s nothing worse than calling your insurer when something’s gone wrong and getting put through to a call centre that doesn’t know your business from Adam.
The Digital Advantage (Without the Jargon)
Here’s where things get interesting. The insurers who are investing in proper tech—AI, better data systems, all that good stuff—aren’t just streamlining their own operations. They’re actually getting better at understanding risk, which means more accurate pricing and faster decisions.
For mortgage brokers, this means quicker turnarounds on buy-to-let applications. For small businesses, it means cover that actually fits what you do, not some generic policy that might leave you high and dry.
Starting Conversations Early
The best relationships we see aren’t the ones that start when the renewal notice drops through the letterbox. They’re the ones where we’re talking to clients throughout the year—checking in, understanding how their business is changing, spotting potential issues before they become expensive problems.
It’s like having a conversation with your accountant in November, not just at the end of the tax year when you’re panicking about deadlines.
Not All Risks Are Created Equal
Here’s something worth knowing: while the overall market might be soft, some areas are still seeing rising claims. Motor insurance is still tricky. Liability claims—well, that’s its own world entirely. The key is finding someone who understands your specific situation, not just lumping everything together.
Your salon has different risks than your mate’s engineering firm. Your small office block faces different challenges than a retail shop. Cookie-cutter approaches just don’t cut it anymore.
What This Actually Means for You
So where does this leave mortgage brokers and small business owners?
For mortgage brokers: Your buy-to-let clients need insurers who understand property investment, not just standard home insurance with bells on. They need partners who can move quickly when a purchase is time-sensitive, and who actually know the difference between a single let and a portfolio strategy.
For small businesses: Whether you’re running a salon, managing an office, or operating a shop, you need cover that grows with you. An insurer who understands that your business this year might look very different from your business next year.
The Bottom Line
This soft market isn’t about finding the cheapest premium—it’s about finding real value. It’s about working with people who’ll be there when you need them, who understand your business, and who can adapt as things change.
We can’t promise zero claims—life’s not that predictable. But we can promise you’ll know we’ve got your back when it matters. And in a world where everyone’s cutting corners, that’s not just refreshing—it’s essential.
Want to have a proper conversation about your commercial insurance needs? No jargon, no hard sell, just straight talk about what actually matters for your business. Get in touch with the Protect Commercial team and let’s see how we can help.
Author: Matt Duffy
