The Acorn Group has expanded its technology team by recruiting six candidates to its graduate scheme.
The 18-month program offers a pathway into permanent roles within Acorn's technology function. On completion, graduates will specialise in areas including application support, DevOps and platform engineering, as well as process automation and AI.
The six candidates were selected following an assessment day in January.
“Our graduate scheme is designed to enable individuals to develop core technical skills and gain real‑world experience, supporting their journey to becoming well‑rounded experts in their fields and contributing to Acorn’s long‑term growth," said Ian Truman, chief technology officer at Acorn. "These graduates will play a vital role in enacting our initiatives as we continue to drive forward technological innovation in the insurance industry and champion the needs of the non‑standard consumer.”
Non‑standard specialist with growing tech ambitions
Acorn, which was founded in 1982, now has around 1,400 employees, more than 500,000 live policyholders and gross written premium (GWP) of over £740 million, with 2023 GWP reported at more than £527 million and a combined operating ratio of about 90%.
The group distributes through its own brands – including Acorn Insurance, telematics specialist Carrot and courier/food delivery brand Street Cover – as well as via Granite Underwriting’s network of more than 200 UK brokers. Most policies are underwritten by Gibraltar‑based Haven, part of the same group, which reported a solvency ratio of 157% alongside Acorn’s 2023 results.
Acorn’s core focus is serving drivers and households often declined or heavily loaded by standard insurers, including taxi and private‑hire drivers, convicted or higher‑risk motorists, and non‑standard home risks.
Technology and telematics focus
The group has been building its internal technology capability to support underwriting, distribution and service in these niches. Its tech careers materials describe a “fast‑growing in‑house technology team” responsible for customer portals and apps, tools for call‑center staff and infrastructure for an expanding range of specialist products, with an ambition to make its technology “industry‑leading in the years to come.”
Acorn has also been active in telematics. It acquired young‑driver telematics broker Carrot in 2021 and, more recently, MyPolicy, another telematics specialist focused on young and low‑mileage drivers.
Those acquisitions, combined with internal tech hiring, point to a strategy built around data and behavioral insights to price and manage non‑standard risks that many composite insurers find hard to underwrite profitably.
Regulatory and market backdrop
The expansion of Acorn’s tech team is taking place under a tougher regulatory environment for UK personal lines. Since the Financial Conduct Authority’s General Insurance Pricing Practices rules and Consumer Duty took effect, motor and home insurers have been required to evidence “fair value,” limit price‑walking and improve outcomes for vulnerable customers.
The FCA has also pushed down the cost of premium finance: average APRs on monthly insurance payments have fallen by about four percentage points since 2022, saving customers an estimated £157 million a year. For non‑standard providers, whose customers are more likely to pay monthly and to sit in higher‑risk segments, these changes increase the importance of efficient operations, robust risk selection and differentiated service models.
Regional tech and talent
Meanwhile, locating the expanding tech team in Liverpool ties into a wider regional story. The city has emerged as a growing hub for digital and fintech businesses in the North West of England, providing access to a young talent pool and a lower cost base than London. Acorn has invested in office space in the city as part of its long-term growth plans.
