Law360: A London judge ordered two former directors of failed retail chain BHS on 11 June 2024 to each pay liquidators £13.5m after finding that they knew that the company was beyond rescue when it was purchased in 2015.

The BioIndustry Association (BIA) has published a report calling for a new pathway to improve UK patient access to rare disease medicines. The report identifies four reform priorities: enhanced regulator-industry engagement between MHRA, NICE and companies; modernised NICE appraisal methods; stronger NHS adoption mechanisms; and establishment of a UK Government Rare Disease Champion. The recommendations come as NICE reviews its health benefit assessment methodology and MHRA develops new rare disease therapy regulatory pathways following the UK-US pharmaceuticals deal.

The BioIndustry Association (BIA) has published its Q2 2025 finance report, stating that UK biotech companies raised £1.23bn in venture capital (VC) investment in H1 2025. This includes £881m in Q1 and £344m in Q2. A notable transaction was Draig Therapeutics’ £107m raise, which included the first biotech investment from Schroders Capital’s UK Innovation Long-Term Asset Fund (LTAF). According to the BIA, this represents progress in unlocking institutional capital from the City of London, a development the organisation has long supported. The UK accounted for 28% of all European biotech VC raised in Q2.

The British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) has urged the government to reduce insurance premium tax (IPT), invest in flood defences and reform the apprenticeship levy with the aim of easing the impact on the cost-of-living crisis and protecting consumers and businesses. BIBA believes the straightforward interventions can reduce some cost burden, primarily caused due to inflationary presses that consumers and businesses are facing with their insurance.

The British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) has launched its 2024 manifesto, ‘Managing risk for growth and economic security’, setting out its agenda for the year ahead which aims to support the economy, businesses and consumers. The importance of suitable cyber insurance, fire safety issues in relation to multi-occupancy buildings and the need to adapt how the UK builds homes and invests in flood defences form a number of BIBA’s calls to action.

The British Insurance Brokers' Association (BIBA) has introduced the Fair Value Assessment Framework to assist its members in articulating and evidencing the value of their services to meet regulatory requirements. Created by economics and finance consultancy Oxera, the framework is available to members on BIBA's website and aims to align with the Financial Conduct Authority's findings in the multi-occupancy buildings sector. A dedicated webinar will be hosted on 26 October 2023 to offer a detailed overview.

The British Insurance Brokers' Association (BIBA) has launched three guides to assist brokers in helping their customers navigate the claim process for home, motor and travel insurance. These guides will be a useful aide memoir for brokers’ clients, highlighting the steps they may need to take and the information they may need to gather in order to submit a claim. The guides are available to members on the BIBA website.

The British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) has launched a new trade credit insurance guide to assist businesses in protecting their cashflow. The guide explains the need for and the benefits of this type of insurance. It is available on the BIBA website to brokers and businesses.

The British Insurance Brokers' Association (BIBA), in collaboration with the National Cyber Security Centre, the International Underwriting Association and the Association of British Insurers have published new guidance to help businesses’ decision-making around making ransom payments following a cyber-attack.

The British Insurance Brokers' Association (BIBA) has reaffirmed its commitment to environmental, social and governance (ESG) in 2024 following their ESG policy in 2023. BIBA‘s chief executive officer, Graeme Trudgill, signed the association‘s ESG policy reinforcing its pledge to ensure that accountability and transparency underpins all its practices and activities. BIBA plans to refresh its ESG policy and disclose it publicly annually.

The British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) has released two new guides: (1) Insurance Brokers' Commissions Guide and (2) Premium Finance Guide. The first guide aims to help consumers and businesses understand the advantages of the insurance brokers' commission model and demystify suggestions that commissions should be removed or capped, and the second guide aims to help members demonstrate fair value in the provision of premium finance. The guides are available to BIBA members only.

The British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) has welcomed the FCA’s post-implementation review of travel insurance signposting. The review confirms that signposting services are delivering good outcomes for consumers, after the requirements in April 2021 were introduced to help consumers with serious pre-existing medical conditions better navigate the travel insurance market. BIBA welcomes this, as it has long advocated total signposting as a solution to help customers find suitable insurance.