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Headquarters Address
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Ibex House, 42-47 Minories, London EC3N 1DY, UK
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| GWP |
£348 million (according to November 2019 report)
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| Size (employees) |
800+
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| UK Locations |
Alton, Barnstaple, Birmingham, Broadstairs, Burnham-on-Crouch, Bury St Edmunds, Carlow, Caterham, Chafford Hundred, Colchester, Croydon, Derby, Dover, Dublin, Dudley, Exeter, Farnborough, Glasgow, Leominster, London, Maidstone, Manchester, Padstow, Poole, Portlaoise, Stourbridge, West Malling, Wexford
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| Underwriting Expertise |
Business cover, risk reduction, and employee benefits
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| Key People |
CEO: Peter Blanc
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About Aston Lark
Aston Lark is an independent insurance broker with more than 800 people in over 30 offices across the UK. To serve more than 100,000 clients, the company has a dedicated in-house claims division providing expert guidance. Aston Lark’s products can be divided into three types:
- Business cover insurance products include the following: art gallery, aviation, brewery, business interruption, building valuations, building warranty, charity, chauffeur, commercial combined, classic motor trade, commercial motor fleet, construction, contract works, cricket & multi-sports club, cyber risk, diplomat & embassy, design & construct professional indemnity, educational establishment, employment practices liability, facilities management, film & media, financial institutions, fire safety, food & drink, funeral directors, haulage & logistics, health insurance for business, health & safety, hospitality, indemnity, leisure & leisure trusts, lost share certificate indemnity, management liability, manufacturing, marine trade, market research, masonic, motor trade, museum, and non-negligence.
- Risk reduction products include the following: health & safety, occupational road risks, fire safety, risk management, facilities management, and building valuations.
- Employee benefits products include the following: employee benefits, group pension schemes, workplace engagement, retirement workshop, company medical insurance, business protection, group critical illness, group life assurance, group income protection, relevant life, small scheme solutions, flexible benefits & total reward statements, and health & wellbeing.
History of Aston Lark
Aston Lark was born when independent insurance brokers Aston Scott Group and Lark Group merged in July 2018 due to their shared beliefs, values, and goals. Throughout the years, the company has worked across all commercial sectors, schemes, and various specialisations. It has also become one of the top five independent Chartered Insurance Brokers in the UK with more than 30 regional offices.
In September 2019, Goldman Sachs announced that it had become Aston Lark’s new majority owners – allowing the company to continue acquiring like-minded brokers and employee benefits advisers.
Leadership at Aston Lark
Peter Blanc – CEO
Blanc is the CEO of Aston Lark, the non-executive chairman of Hastings Insurance Services Ltd, and the chairman of the Large Brokers’ Advisory Board at the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA).
Blanc started his career in motor underwriting then eventually moved to broking. In 2000, he led a management buy-out of UK commercial division Farr and changed the company’s name to FMW Risk Services Ltd. Under his leadership, the company grew to approximately £25 million gross written premium (GWP) before being acquired by Oval in December 2007.
In 2012, Blanc stepped up to Oval’s CEO role and led the company until its sale to Arthur J Gallagher in April 2014. In May 2015, he concluded a management buy-in of Aston Scott and then led the merger with Lark Group in 2017.
Culture at Aston Lark
Aston Lark is committed to sharing and promoting its values of sustainability and good corporate citizenship with all its stakeholders and local communities while focusing on passion and integrity, being an industry expert, and ensuring that it can deliver.
The company annually hosts the “Team Athlon” to raise money for two chosen charities with causes close to the hearts of the company’s people. Its employees and other participants from Aston Lark partners work closely to compete in either a 5K or 10K run or a 15K bike ride. In 2019, the event raised £8,000 and saw 100 racers and spectators.
Aston Lark has also partnered with Smart Works, a charity that helps unemployed women in preparing for their upcoming job interviews by providing a two-hour dressing and coaching service. Candidates who were successful at a meeting are welcomed back for a second dressing to receive five additional pieces of clothing for their new role.
