Clear Group has acquired Blackhawk Insurance Services, a specialist construction insurance broker based in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex.
Clear said the deal strengthens its established construction specialism. Financial terms were not disclosed.
“Blackhawk is an excellent addition to Clear and a natural fit with our existing specialist capabilities,” said Mike Edgeley, group chief executive of Clear.
Edgeley said Clear would invest in Blackhawk’s expertise and give it access to the group’s wider resources to support its next phase of growth.
Mark Kemp, managing director of Blackhawk, said joining Clear would let the business draw on the group’s capabilities while keeping the personal service and industry knowledge its clients value.
The deal continues an active run of acquisitions for Clear, which is backed by Goldman Sachs Alternatives. Last month, it bought London wholesale broker Commercial Risks and its MGA, Troon Underwriting. In August, it acquired Lloyd’s wholesale broker Newman Pearce & Partners and agreed to buy Surrey-based C.R. Toogood & Co.
Clear’s activity stands out in a quiet market. MarshBerry recorded just two UK insurance distribution deals in October, the lowest monthly total in nearly ten years, and several of the most active consolidators have done no UK deals this year.
Specialist construction broking faces a demanding market. Construction is among the sectors most exposed to rising insolvencies, according to Willis Re. Sedgwick has reported that 3,948 construction businesses failed in England and Wales in 2025. Contractors also face rising material and labour costs, and skills shortages.
Those pressures make specialist advice on contract works, liability, professional indemnity and surety more valuable to construction clients, and give brokers with deep sector knowledge an edge.
For construction clients of Blackhawk, the deal promises continuity of personal service, with access to a larger group’s markets and resources. That could help when placing harder risks, such as larger contract values or more complex projects.
For the wider market, Clear’s buying shows that consolidators with fresh capital are still paying for specialist expertise, even as overall deal volumes fall. Independent brokers with a clear sector niche remain attractive targets.
