Gallagher has added a further market-leading name to its portfolio, signing a multi-year appointment as broker for the Bioenergy Infrastructure Group (BIG). The firm is one of the UK’s largest owners and operators of biomass and waste to energy solutions with over 100 megawatts of operational and late-stage construction assets. Gallagher’s Specialty division won the appointment and will manage the organisation’s risk management needs.
BIG is making a significant contribution to the development of the UK’s low-carbon economy, by diverting nearly one million tonnes per annum of waste from landfill and generating enough electricity for around 250,000 homes in the UK. It specialises in connecting institutional capital with bioenergy projects and is differentiated from other investors in the sector by its long-term investment approach and focus on mid-scale plants, from new greenfield sites to facilities already in operation. It has operations across six locations including Merseyside, Hoddesdon and Hull, and is headquartered in Reading, Berkshire.
Gallagher was chosen by BIG following a competitive tender process, being picked for its outstanding knowledge and technical ability in the sector and its approach of putting in place a dedicated team which would develop and manage all elements of the firm’s insurance programme.
Julie Scott, Adviser in Gallagher’s Specialty division, commented: “We are delighted to be working with BIG, a fantastic organisation helping to make a real difference to the UK’s low carbon goals. BIG is a complex business with significant risk management needs, but as a team with experience in the bioenergy sector we have strong technical knowledge and excellent relationships with insurers, meaning we can deliver innovative solutions that other brokers may not be able to access.
“BIG has ambitious plans and we are really excited about being on a journey with the team and supporting its evolving risk management needs as it grows.”
Tom Wylie, Insurance and Risk Consultant at BIG, added: “We were keen to work with a broker that could demonstrate a good understanding of our business, and the team at Gallagher were really passionate about how having the right proposition in place could help us develop on our growth agenda. We liked the fact that the team that was involved in setting up the programme, is the team that will manage the relationship throughout. We look forward to working closely with them over the coming years.”