(Nomination only) The winner of this award is ultimately selected by broker voting in the UK from a shortlist put together by Insurance Times in conjunction with a panel of expert industry analysts. The selection is informed by company results and financial performance; the perspective of the investor community; progress on strategy; leadership and visibility in the market; as well as the view of service provided to brokers, which has been collected through the Insurance Times Broker Service Survey.

(Awarded solely by a panel of industry experts) The winner of this award is selected from a shortlist put together by Insurance Times in conjunction with a panel of expert industry analysts. The selection is informed by company results and financial performance; quality of leadership, both at the executive and market-facing levels; quality of strategic thinking and execution; the view of service to brokers through the Insurance Times Broker Service Survey; as well as any stand-out initiatives.

(Nomination only) The winner of this award is voted for by brokers in the UK from a shortlist put together by Insurance Times in conjunction with a panel of expert industry analysts. The selection is informed by company results and financial performance; the perspective of the investor community; progress on strategy; leadership and visibility in the market; as well as the view of service to brokers through the Insurance Times Broker Service Survey.

(Awarded solely by Insurance Times) This unique accolade will be presented to an individual who has demonstrated personal and professional commitment to the industry over a period of years, and enjoys the palpable respect and admiration of their peers. In their functional specialism, they have excelled, enjoying success and demonstrably impacting individuals, businesses and UKGI. This award recognises the inspirational, the committed, and those who have really made a difference.

(Nomination only) This highly coveted award is voted for by chief executives of the largest insurers in the UK. We ask them to choose their 'first amongst equals', and to select the CEO who they most admire in UKGI.

This award is designed to spotlight projects in claims that result in material improvements in efficiencies and benefits, for the originating business, their business partners and for the end-client. Whether the project has a focus on the end-customer experience, or is designed to improve internal operations, such as anti-fraud, weight will be given to initiatives that have benefited the organisation, but also have the potential to disrupt the status-quo.

We invite insurers to share those projects or developments that have demonstrably delivered real change, in strategy, service delivery or operations. Have you developed a start-up accelerator that drives ideas back into the business? Have you come up with an innovative response to an emerging risk? Have you changed your claims process in order to improve customer outcomes? Have you transformed your talent pipeline to boost diversity? It could be a small change with a deep effect, or a big change with wide impact – but, weight will be given to initiatives demonstrating real change through new ideas.

(Nomination only) The winner of this award is ultimately selected by brokers in the UK from a shortlist put together by Insurance Times, led by the editor, Saxon East, in conjunction with a panel of expert industry analysts. The selection is informed by company results and financial performance; the perspective of the investor community; progress on strategy; leadership and visibility in the market; as well as the view of service to brokers, through the Insurance Times Broker Service Survey.

(Nomination only) This highly coveted award is voted for by chief executives of the largest brokers in the UK. We ask them to choose their 'first amongst equals' and to select the CEO who they most admire in UK broking.

This category is designed to spotlight projects in claims originated by brokers that result in material improvements in efficiencies and benefits, for the originating business, the broker's business partners, and for the end-client. Whether the project has a focus on the end-customer experience, or is designed to improve internal operations, weight will be given to initiatives that have benefitted the organisation, but also have the potential to shake up the status quo.

This category seeks to find the brokerage in the UK that sets the standard for others in the market to follow in commercial lines. Has your business grown despite the adverse economics? Have you innovated to the benefit of end-clients, business partners and/or your GWP and profit generating abilities? Weight will be given to entries that show clear business growth, demonstrably successful adaptation to challenging conditions and/or successful innovation in offerings and service.

This award seeks to spotlight those brokers that can demonstrate expertise and a total focus on client need in this increasingly sophisticated and competitive specialism. You may be an established HNW specialist, or able to demonstrate outstanding business and proactive service development arising from a predominantly commercial book. Judges will be looking for evidence of 'going the extra mile' for the client, innovation and a deep, ongoing commitment to the HNW specialism. Do you set the standard for excellence in HNW Broking in 2017?

This award seeks to spotlight those brokers that demonstrate expertise and a total focus on client need in this competitive specialism, in either private/personal or commercial motor. You may be an established specialist, or able to demonstrate outstanding business and proactive service development within a mixed portfolio. Judges will be looking for evidence of a differentiated, 'non-standard' approach, whether from product design, development and delivery, your partnerships, marketing communications, claims – or a combination of these efforts. Do you set the standard for excellence in motor broking in 2017?

This prized award is an opportunity for the independent regional broker, which is setting the standard for others to follow, to spotlight their achievements before the rest of the industry. Weight will be given to entries demonstrating entrepreneurial nous and a demonstrable track record in making your independent status work for you, including in partnerships, your business, your employees or your clients. Most likely spotlighting a specific approach, project or business development initiative, your entry will include specific success indicators including business growth.

This coveted award highlights the brokerage in the UK that sets the standard for others in the market to follow in personal lines. Has your business grown in this tough, competitive market? Have you innovated to the benefit of end-clients, business partners and/or your GWP and profit generating abilities? Weight will be given to entries that show clear business growth, demonstrably successful adaptation to challenging conditions and/or successful innovation in offerings and service.

Schemes are one of the great growth opportunities in insurance, giving entrepreneurial brokers a competitive advantage to seize extra business. This category is open to all insurance brokers that have created a new scheme in the past 12 months in either commercial or personal lines. Entrants need to demonstrate how they developed their scheme and why it offers a unique proposition for the market.

This category recognises those service partners who have gone the extra mile over the past year. If your firm works with UK-based brokers and insurers to help them structure, deliver and communicate about their products and services to clients and partners in the UK, share your achievements with us and the industry. This category is open to loss adjusters, technology firms, ratings agencies, legal firms, communications and marketing agencies, consultancy, fraud and credit data specialists – the gamut of business partners necessary to enable UK-based insurers and brokers to operate successfully wherever in the world their clients have requirements.

This category recognises those claims, loss adjusting, legal and service partners that have shown outstanding profitable, flexible and efficient support to UKGI brokers and/or insurers. Judges will look for partnerships that have helped brokers and/or insurers structure, deliver, communicate, improve or grow their products and services over the past year. Whether you have a great positive story to tell around crisis management, for example, in flooding or other high-impact events, or you wish to share a programme of internal change that is boosting your value to your insurer and broker partners, this award is for you.

This category is designed to highlight projects that have resulted in measurable improvements in the end-customer experience, in any business line. Whether you have introduced new technology in your processes to put the customer at the heart of what you do, or given customers fast, accurate ways to report claims, or invested in customer education to support their decision-making, this award is the platform to demonstrate your commitment to the end-customer.

This category is designed to highlight projects that have resulted in measurable improvements in the end-customer experience, in any business line. Whether you have introduced new technology in your processes to put the customer at the heart of what you do, or given customers fast, accurate ways to report claims, or invested in customer education to support their decision-making, this award is the platform to demonstrate your commitment to the end-customer.

This highly-relevant category recognises and celebrates UKGI insurers and brokers that put diversity and inclusion at the heart of what they do. From small brokers to large insurers judges will look for evidence of how organisations change behaviours, not just attitudes, to deliver improved commercial outcomes throughout their organisations and can demonstrate how they are continuing to grow sustainable businesses and promote innovation both internally and externally.

This award rewards initiatives and solutions that improve internal and external operational and administrative processes. From the use of artificial intelligence to the implementation of distributed ledgers, successful entries will demonstrate how technology has improved: operational efficiencies; customer services; and business administration.

This highly relevant category is designed to spotlight investment in training, talent retention and education of employees by insurers and brokers, which has resulted in tangible, measurable benefits for an organisation's employees, business partners, and/or customers.

(Shortlist by Insurance Times) As the leading insight brand for the UK general insurance market, Insurance Times remains at the heart of the biggest stories shaping our industry. Throughout 2017 we will have published hundreds of stories, provided exclusive news and delivered analysis and context on the ever-changing UK general insurance market. But which of these stories will have had the biggest impact on the UK general insurance industry during 2017? At this year's Awards, all guests will be asked to decide and vote for their Newsmaker of the Year. Using a shortlist built by Insurance Times' award-winning editorial team, guests will be invited to vote during the Awards – this is a chance to make headlines of your own.

Open to all businesses operating in the UK insurance market — including agencies working on their behalf — that have undertaken a marketing campaign targeting either other businesses or consumers. The judges will be looking for innovation and original thinking in media, message and execution, with a focus on digital channels. Entries featuring a single medium will be considered. Entrants will also demonstrate a contribution to the success of the business for whom they work.

This category is designed to showcase the achievements of the MGA community, a growing force whose firms represent 10% of premium income for UKGI. If you are an MGA and you can demonstrate how you have excelled in delivering professional underwriting services on behalf of insurers that want access to niche markets without setting up their own distribution channels, and/or delivering brokers better service and a wider range of product and insurer options than they can otherwise obtain - the industry wants to hear and celebrate your achievements.