The journey to Pen

In 2014, Pen was formed out of 12 leading underwriting businesses - creating a single company offering underwriting with a difference.

We knew we could deliver something unique that the market hadn’t seen before but we also understood that it isn’t always necessary to reinvent the wheel, which is why we offer the traditional values that brokers expect – support, expertise and outstanding service.

Today, if Pen were an insurer we’d be one of the top 25 insurance companies in the UK in terms of size*. With 17 underwriting teams, 400 employees and 15 locations – we are the second largest managing general agent (MGA) in the UK.

United, Pen Underwriting is greater than the parts we were built from - although many of our founding businesses were market leaders and experts in their field. The introduction of a “one Pen” culture means we have grown, developed and built from a stable base, and our size means we have critical mass and the ability to invest in our business.

We have a clear vision for the future, in which we continue to be valued by our brokers, capacity partners and the people we insure - and are seen as the go-to virtual insurer. We aim to underwrite a diverse portfolio, unmatched in our scope of class, territory and reach.

*In terms of GWP compared to other non-life insurers.