Bermuda-based global property and casualty insurance and reinsurance company Endurance Specialty Holdings’ UK subsidiary is reaching out beyond the confines of London to create a relationship network with brokers who work in the various regions of the British Isles.

Big metropolitan areas such as Birmingham and Leeds are home to sizeable brokerage businesses and it is these that Endurance Worldwide Insurance Limited — the company’s UK presence — is seeking to link-up with in order to expand its retail business.

The move has been reported in Chicago, where the company also has offices.

Jon Houghton, who heads Endurance’s UK individual risk property insurance, describes the move as creating relationships between brokers and the insurance company.

A list of brokers who have linked up with Endurance from the UK regions includes Oxygen Insurance Brokers and Perkins Slade Ltd, The Oval Group, Miller Insurance Services Ltd, Jelf Group PLC, Alec Finch Group Ltd, Bridge Insurance Brokers Ltd and Griffiths & Armour.

Most of the companies mentioned have a number of regional offices serving clients across the entire UK. Oval has a London office and satellite offices in a number of cities including Nottingham, Birmingham, Sheffield and Aberdeen.

What is in it for the regional brokers? The opportunity to link with a world player able to offer security, competitive prices and a risk-focused approach, and a “simple focused concept”, are some of the thoughts already expressed by representatives from the regional brokers involved.

Mr. Houghton has commented on the move by saying Endurance in the UK was seeking a wider distribution beyond the London market and was looking to do business with mid-range corporations and risk management organisations.

At the moment there are no plans to expand the idea beyond the UK and into Europe, Mr. Houghton is reported to have said.

Endurance set up its wholly-owned UK subsidiary in 2002 to write commercial insurance and reinsurance in the UK and is based in London. The subsidiary was capitalised with $140 million (approximately $280 million).

On February 7, Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd will release its 2006 fourth quarter financial results.