Leading Specialist Insurer Markel Launches New Brand and Service

LEEDS, England, April 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- A leading specialist insurer today announced it was aiming for a bigger share of the billion-pound business insurance market by launching a new brand, Markel Direct. This enables businesses to arrange competitively-priced cover direct and get online quotes in just 90 seconds - the quickest in the industry.

Markel UK, which has over 20 years' experience in offering business insurance for professionals, confirmed that Markel Direct would simplify the process of setting up business insurance cover, offering clients new product innovation whilst simultaneously increasing its share of the business insurance market.

Markel's new website - www.markeluk.com - will form an important sales channel for the company, with some covers available from only GBP5 per month and pioneering technology enabling the company to offer some quotes in just 90 seconds. Markel Direct will also offer clients easy payment options and online documentation.

Key products available include cover for professional indemnity, employers' liability, public and product liability (general liability), directors and officers liability, office buildings and contents and business interruption. Specialist policies for homeworkers and home based businesses are also available to buy online.

The Leeds-based company, a division of A-rated Markel International, confirmed that the launch of Markel Direct formed the first stage of a multi-distribution operating model.

Steve Carroll, managing director of Markel UK, said: "We are delighted to announce the launch of Markel Direct today.

"Appreciating that buying insurance is not generally considered to be the most exciting of transactions for our clients, we have endeavoured to make things as simple as possible without compromising service and protection. Professions across the UK need no longer feel daunted by the prospect of setting up cover.

"Our strategic plan also includes extensive developments and improvements to our insurance broker service to deliver even more flexibility and new products. This means that Markel is ideally placed to serve customers however they choose to buy insurance."

For more information, visit www.markeluk.com.

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SOURCE Markel Direct