Weather-related claims cost UK insurers £1.6 billion in 2025, and the sector is already tracking conditions that could trigger another surge this year. QuestGates has moved to strengthen its response capacity by adding a loss adjusting pathway to its Vector programme. The claims training model was launched 18 months ago.
The UK’s largest owner-managed loss adjusting group said the pathway will allow it to handle lower-complexity claims faster through video technology. The move adds flexible back-office capacity during periods of high demand.
The announcement follows Vector receiving the NFUM Supply Chain Award for Claims Initiative of the Year. The award was presented at QuestGates’ Stratford-upon-Avon office on 10 June 2026.
Vector operates as a fully functioning claims team rather than a traditional training scheme. Participants combine remote inspections with physical site attendance and structured development time. They work towards industry-recognised qualifications under experienced mentors.
The programme targets a gap the wider market has struggled to fill. Talent attraction and retention ranked as the top business challenge for UK insurers in 2026, according to Gallagher Bassett’s The Carrier Perspective: 2026 Claims Insights report.
The survey found 72% of respondents reported greater difficulty finding qualified candidates. A further 48% cited acute shortages in claims management and adjusting.
Some firms are responding by rethinking how the role is defined. Industry analysis published in April 2026 found that perception rather than capability continues to shape who enters loss adjusting. Broadening how the role is presented could widen the recruitment pool significantly, the analysis found.
Colin Ganson, chief operating officer at QuestGates, said the programme allows the firm to match the right resource to each claim while building adjuster capability.
“By leveraging technology, we can progress cases faster, develop the next generation of adjusters whilst strengthening our surge capability with robust back-office support and additional capacity when needed,” Ganson said.
The £1.6 billion weather claims figure from 2025 reflects how much ground the sector has had to cover in a short period. Domestic flood claims rose 38% to £312 million, according to Deloitte. Storm damage to homes climbed 32% to £244 million in the same year.
Vector’s value was tested during that period. The programme provided flexible support to QuestGates’ wider operations during Storm Éowyn in early 2025. Claims volumes placed significant pressure across the market at the height of the storm.
The pressure on claims capacity shows no sign of easing. Claims Consortium Group said conditions in 2026 are already tracking those that preceded the 2025 surge. Soil moisture data points toward a potential fourth surge event in eight years. Repeated events of this kind carry wider implications for insurer appetite and pricing.
Steven Campbell, national operations manager for Vector at QuestGates, said the programme was built to serve two functions at once.
“Vector has been deliberately built around structured talent development, providing emerging claims professionals with real hands-on experience and a clear pathway into loss adjusting,” Campbell said. “It also delivers scalable support during surge events and creates the perfect environment for us to test and embed new innovations that drive the business forward.”
