QBE opens new Leeds office, the insurer’s largest European site outside of London

Business insurer QBE has officially launched its new Leeds office situated at West Village, the largest European site for the global insurer outside of London, with more than 450 employees, representing a 40% increase in the Yorkshire hub’s workforce since 2022.

The launch of this office, according to QBE, reinforces its UK regional broker strategy and its commitment to the Yorkshire market, and reflects a £3.6 million investment in the West Yorkshire city.

QBE International CEO Jason Harris commented: “We are excited to be moving our people to such a prestigious location that is in tune with our commitment to sustainability, modernisation ambitions and focus on employee wellbeing. The next chapter in our Leeds story includes expanding our underwriting capability, working with more local brokers to support even more businesses in the region.

“Leeds is one of the UK’s fastest growing cities with a diverse economy and an exceptional talent base. Over the last five years, we have set up centres of excellence here for robotics, claims and finance while building out our operations and people teams here. From Leeds we are leveraging local talent to support our business across Europe enabling us to consistently deliver great service, helping businesses get back on their feet more quickly.”

Following the recent establishment of centres of excellence in technology, claims, and finance, a majority of QBE’s Leeds-based employees are now actively supporting these specialised capabilities.

The new office will consist of over 20 Property, Commercial Combined, Casualty, Contractors Combined, Fleet and Motor Trade underwriters; as well as with more than 300 people handling claims and 80 people in finance as well as a robotics centre.

With a wide-range of appetite managed locally, the office will be writing from £1,000 casualty excess of loss up to multi million pound cross class programmes, according to the firm.

The Leeds office also has significant people and operations teams, both of which have experienced growth in recent years.

QBE has been developing its UK regional business for the past two years. Head of trading Leeds Janine Wood explained: “Brokers were clear about what they wanted, to be able do business on their doorstep with decision makers who understand the local market and the challenges local businesses are contending with. Our response was to grow our regional network of underwriters authorised to write different sizes and ranges of cross class products across most industries.

“What we’re offering Leeds is the technical expertise, wide appetite, flexible solutions and empowered local underwriting the second largest financial services centre in the UK deserves. Our team takes responsibility, brings in our risk engineering and claims experts as needed and are not afraid to pick up the phone to give our brokers and customers a personalised and efficient service.”

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