Broker-focused insurer TravelCard has launched a charity scheme enabling intermediaries to nominate causes close to their hearts.

CEO Peter Klemt says the TravelCard Giving Partnership is an extension of the company’s broker-first strategy.

Brokers are invited to nominate charities that make “a positive difference to the community”, with an oversight committee set up to review submissions and allocate funding. Grants of up to $10,000 will be awarded to the chosen registered charities.

The scheme is funded by setting aside a percentage of premium from direct business.

“We are really trying to steer people to the broking community,” Mr Klemt told insuranceNEWS.com.au. “We ask people who contact us whether they use a broker, or whether they would like to nominate a broker.

“Where no broker is nominated, we set aside 6% of gross written premium, and this is used to fund the giving partnership.

“We are very excited to be launching this and it has been very well received by key stakeholders.”

Mr Klemt says that a year on since its launch the company is well on track. TravelCard won the specialty award in this year’s Mansfield Awards for claims excellence and was a finalist for the overall Gold Mansfield Award for Claims Excellence.

He says corporate travel insurance still accounts for the greater share of TravelCard business, but the bigger opportunity is in leisure.

“It is going to take some time to re-educate the market, but brokers have a huge opportunity to expand into leisure travel.”