The launch of a new broker standards group in the UK has drawn a swift response from established organisations such as the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA).

The Insurance Brokers Standards Council was set up by a group of brokers who say the profession “needs to establish a code of conduct to raise standards of behaviour and practice”.

Broker Paul Anscombe will chair the council, whose constitution will be signed and launched on March 1.

Membership will be on an individual basis, but broking companies can become associate members if they endorse the council’s code of conduct.

BIBA responded by insisting it “continues to lead the debate on raising standards in the professional insurance broking sector”.

“Raising standards of professionalism… is the most important part of stage two of our strategic review,” BIBA CEO Steve White said. “I will be setting up a working group and have a member-wide consultation in the first quarter of this year.

“We are encouraged that a growing number of professional insurance broking firms are interested in joining the debate on raising the standards in our profession.”