Avid Insurance partners with Starr to expand into Groundworkers, Motorsport and Leisure sectors

21 June 2025

Avid Insurance, the specialist MGA, has today announced a new partnership with Starr, a global insurance and investment organization, that will provide fresh underwriting capacity across three specialist liability lines: Groundworkers, Motorsport, and Leisure.

This new agreement marks a major step in Avid’s strategy to grow its commercial liability offering and deliver focused solutions to brokers operating in complex, often underserved, sectors.

John Inwood, Underwriting Director at Avid, said: “We’ve had a strong start to 2025, and this new partnership with Starr represents another exciting step forward for Avid. Each of these three sectors requires dedicated expertise, and we’re proud to be offering brokers targeted products, and specialist underwriting.”

Starr brings over a century of experience, an AM Best rating of “A” (Excellent), and a global footprint spanning more than 100 countries. 

Carl Jago, Head of Casualty (UK Retail) at Starr Underwriting Agents, commented: “We are delighted to further strengthen our partnership with Avid by supporting them in these specialist segments. Avid’s proven underwriting expertise and strong track record in these areas have impressed us from the outset. We look forward to working closely with John and his team to deliver best-in-class solutions to brokers and customers.

The new offering covers Employers’ Liability (EL) and Public Liability (PL) across the following core specialist areas:

• Groundworkers: Led by Avid’s Director of Construction Underwriting (within Avid’s subsidiary IIGL), Dean Surridge, providing coverage for contractors involved in a broad range of services including civil engineering, paving, drainage, utilities, fencing, earthworks, surfacing, and more.
• Motorsport: Overseen by Mike Patchett, Avid’s Head of Speciality, the motorsport product supports the needs of clubs, teams, circuits, venues, events, and associated bodies across both two- and four-wheeled disciplines.
• Leisure: Also under the direction of Mike Patchett, the leisure line targets recreational and activity-based businesses—from adventure attractions to zoos—with a strong emphasis on risk management.