BNC26: Why We Showed Up (and What We’re Bringing Back for FSB Members)

We’ve just got back from Bravo Networks Conference 2026 (BNC26) in Liverpool. It was a busy two days. Lots of conversations, a lot of catching up, and a lot of straight talking about what’s happening in the market right now.

And yes, we also came home with an award.

Community Impact of the Year!

At the Bravo Networks Awards, we were honoured to win Community Impact of the Year.

That means a lot because the community work we do isn’t a one-off. It’s been part of our culture since day one. Over the last 8 years, our team has raised £100,000+ for charities they’ve chosen themselves.

Not because it looks good on a slide. Because people here care, and they keep showing up.

This award belongs to the whole team, and everyone who’s bought a raffle ticket, baked cakes, sponsored a challenge, or helped us push the total up, year after year.

The other reason BNC26 matters: relationships that help members

The award was a proud moment. But the real value of BNC26 is what it helps us do for FSB members.

Small businesses don’t need insurance to be clever. They need it to work.
When something goes wrong, it comes down to a few things:

• Can we get the right insurer people on the phone quickly?
• Can we get clear answers without being bounced around?
• Can we solve problems early, before they turn into claims headaches?

That’s why events like BNC26 matter. They give us proper time with insurer leaders, away from email chains and diary pressure. You build relationships, you build trust, and you get a clearer view of how decisions are being made across the market.

That puts us in a stronger position when an FSB member needs help.

Our CEO David chaired the Insurer Panel

A big highlight for us was David Perry chairing the BNC26 Insurer Panel.

This panel is always one of the sessions people pay attention to, because it’s shaped by feedback from Bravo Networks’ annual insurer survey. It’s also one of the few moments where brokers can hear directly from senior insurer leaders, in one place, on the issues that are actually affecting customers.

David’s role was to keep it grounded and practical. No theatre. No vague answers. The aim is simple: better conversations between brokers and insurers, so customers get a better outcome.

Who was on the Insurer Panel?

Bravo Networks listed the Insurer Panel line-up as:

• Vicky Rowlay National Director of Underwriting Business Services, Arch Insurance (UK) Limited
• Michelle Taylor Broker Distribution Director, Aviva
• Alan Houston Vice President, Commercial Lines Sales, Intact Insurance UK
• Morgan Lyons UK Head of Mid-Market, Zurich UK

What the panel actually is (and why it’s a big deal at BNC)

This isn’t a “nice chat” panel. Bravo’s format is that the questions are built from member feedback gathered via their annual insurer survey. In other words, it’s designed to put insurer leaders on the spot about what brokers are experiencing day-to-day.

Improving Insurer NPS scores demonstrate the effectiveness of Bravo Network members’ feedback, showing that Insurers take notice.

The panel brought together senior leaders from Arch, Aviva, Intact, QBE and Zurich. For us, that matters because those relationships and that access help us get better answers, faster support, and better outcomes for FSB members when they need it.

What happens next

We’re taking a lot back from BNC26, and we’ll keep doing what we’ve always done:

• Keep close to the market
• Keep access to decision-makers
• Keep pushing for better outcomes for small businesses

And we’ll keep fundraising too. The award is lovely, but the point is the work.

If you’re an FSB member and you want a quick chat about your business insurance, we’re here for you.