Key Points
- Clear Group has acquired Blackhawk Insurance Services Limited, an independent insurance broker specialising in the construction sector.
- Blackhawk is based in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, and provides insurance solutions to businesses operating across the construction industry.
- The acquisition is intended to strengthen Clear Group’s existing construction insurance specialism and broaden its expertise.
- Clear Group chief executive Mike Edgeley described Blackhawk as a natural fit for the group’s existing specialist capabilities.
- Blackhawk managing director Mark Kemp said joining Clear would give the business access to wider resources while allowing it to retain its personal service and industry knowledge.
- The financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.
- The deal forms part of Clear Group’s strategy of combining organic growth with targeted acquisitions.
- Clear Group is backed by Goldman Sachs Alternatives and has pursued a series of acquisitions in the UK insurance broking market.
- The transaction comes as construction businesses face pressures including insolvencies, rising material and labour costs, and skills shortages.
- The acquisition highlights continuing consolidation in the specialist insurance broking market, where established sector expertise remains valuable.
Clear Group has acquired Blackhawk Insurance Services Limited, an Essex-based insurance broker specialising in the construction sector, in a move designed to strengthen the group’s specialist insurance capabilities. Blackhawk, which is based in Westcliff-on-Sea, provides insurance solutions to businesses operating across construction. The acquisition brings the broker into Clear Group’s wider business and is intended to provide additional resources and opportunities for growth while maintaining the specialist knowledge and client service associated with Blackhawk.
The transaction was announced on 12 November 2026. As reported by James Cowen of Insurance Times, Clear Group is continuing to expand its construction insurance capabilities through the acquisition. Rosie Simms of Insurance Age also reported the deal, identifying Blackhawk’s work with clients across the construction sector.
Clear Group chief executive Mike Edgeley said Blackhawk was a strong addition to the business and a natural fit with its existing specialist capabilities. Blackhawk managing director Mark Kemp said becoming part of the group would provide access to broader resources while allowing the company to build on its existing client relationships and industry knowledge.
The financial terms of the acquisition have not been disclosed.
Why has Clear Group acquired Blackhawk Insurance Services?
The acquisition strengthens Clear Group’s position in specialist construction insurance. Blackhawk has developed its business around providing insurance solutions to companies operating in the construction sector, giving the group additional experience in a market with distinct insurance requirements.
In its announcement, Clear Group said the acquisition would add complementary experience and knowledge to its existing capabilities. The group also stated that it intended to support Blackhawk’s next phase of growth by investing in its expertise and providing access to wider resources and business capabilities.
Mike Edgeley, group chief executive of Clear Group, described Blackhawk as an excellent addition to the organisation. He said the business was a natural fit with Clear’s existing specialist capabilities and would add further depth to its offering in an important market.
Edgeley also highlighted Blackhawk’s established position in its market and welcomed its team into the group. He said Clear’s ambition was to support the business as it developed, using investment, expertise and the wider group’s resources to help it achieve its objectives.
The acquisition is therefore not simply a change in ownership. It is also intended to strengthen the range of specialist knowledge available within Clear Group and provide Blackhawk with a broader platform for future development.
What does Blackhawk Insurance Services offer to construction businesses?
Blackhawk Insurance Services is based in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, and specialises in insurance for businesses operating across the construction sector.
According to its business information, the broker works with a range of construction-related clients, including general contractors, general building businesses, high-risk contractors, demolition contractors and groundwork contractors. Its insurance services also cover specialist areas described as wet and wired contractors.
These businesses can face different insurance exposures depending on the nature, scale and location of their work. Construction projects may involve risks associated with buildings, equipment, materials, employees, subcontractors and third-party liabilities.
Specialist insurance brokers help businesses identify relevant risks and obtain insurance arrangements suited to their activities. Their understanding of the construction industry can be particularly important when dealing with projects or contractors whose requirements are not adequately addressed by general insurance products.
Rosie Simms of Insurance Age reported that Blackhawk’s work covers clients across the construction sector and that Clear expects the acquisition to expand its expertise in this market.
For Blackhawk, joining a larger group provides access to additional resources while retaining the specialist knowledge on which the business has built its reputation.
What did Mike Edgeley and Mark Kemp say about the acquisition?
Mike Edgeley, group chief executive of Clear Group, said Blackhawk would complement the group’s existing specialist capabilities.
In the company’s announcement, Edgeley said:
“Blackhawk is an excellent addition to Clear and a natural fit with our existing specialist capabilities.”
He explained that the business would bring complementary experience and knowledge, adding depth to Clear’s offering in an important market.
Edgeley also said Blackhawk had established a strong position in its market and that Clear was pleased to welcome its team. He outlined the group’s intention to support the company’s next stage of development through investment in its expertise and access to the wider organisation’s resources and platform.
Mark Kemp, managing director of Blackhawk, also welcomed the transaction. He described joining Clear as an exciting opportunity for the business and its clients.
Kemp explained that Blackhawk had built its business around understanding the particular insurance challenges faced by its customers and delivering solutions suited to their individual requirements.
He said becoming part of Clear would allow Blackhawk to build on that foundation, draw on the wider group’s resources and capabilities, and enhance its offering. He also emphasised the importance of retaining the personal service and industry knowledge valued by clients.
The statements from both executives indicate that the transaction is intended to combine the resources of a larger insurance group with the specialist experience and customer relationships developed by Blackhawk.
How will Blackhawk benefit from joining Clear Group?
Joining Clear Group gives Blackhawk access to the resources and capabilities of a larger insurance organisation.
For a specialist broker, access to a wider group structure can provide opportunities to develop its services, strengthen its market offering and support customers with more complex insurance requirements.
Clear Group has stated that it intends to invest in Blackhawk’s expertise and provide the wider resources needed to support its development. The group has also indicated that the business will be able to build on its existing foundation rather than lose the specialist knowledge and personal service that have helped establish its position.
Mark Kemp’s comments placed particular emphasis on maintaining the company’s approach to customer relationships. His statement indicated that Blackhawk intends to preserve the personal service and industry understanding that clients value while benefiting from the capabilities available across Clear Group.
The company announcements do not set out a detailed integration timetable or disclose specific changes to Blackhawk’s management, staffing or customer arrangements. Consequently, the immediate operational structure following the acquisition should not be assumed to have changed beyond the ownership transaction.
What is Clear Group’s acquisition strategy?
The Blackhawk transaction forms part of Clear Group’s wider approach to growth through a combination of organic development and targeted acquisitions.
In its announcement, Clear said its strategy involves acquiring businesses that add specialist expertise, strengthen its proposition and create opportunities for continued growth.
The group has undertaken several acquisitions as it develops its presence across the insurance market. Its recent activity includes the purchase of London wholesale broker Commercial Risks (UK) and its managing general agent, Troon Underwriting. It has also acquired Lloyd’s wholesale broker Newman Pearce & Partners.
As reported by Josh Recamara of Insurance Business, the Blackhawk deal follows other acquisitions by Clear and forms part of a continuing programme of expansion. The publication reported that Clear is backed by Goldman Sachs Alternatives.
The acquisition strategy reflects the importance of specialist capabilities in insurance broking. Rather than relying exclusively on internal expansion, groups can acquire established businesses with existing customers, experienced teams and knowledge of particular sectors.
For Clear, Blackhawk adds construction insurance expertise to its existing business. The acquisition also strengthens the group’s presence in Essex through a broker with an established base in Westcliff-on-Sea.
What challenges are facing the construction insurance market?
Construction businesses operate in a market where insurance requirements can be affected by financial pressures, project complexity and the risks associated with different types of work.
Josh Recamara of Insurance Business highlighted the pressures facing construction contractors, including business insolvencies, rising material and labour costs, and skills shortages.
The report cited figures from Sedgwick indicating that 3,948 construction businesses failed in England and Wales during 2025. It also referred to Willis Re’s assessment of construction as one of the sectors particularly exposed to rising insolvencies.
These pressures can affect the insurance needs of contractors and other construction businesses. Companies facing financial difficulties may have to reassess their operations, project commitments and risk management arrangements.
Rising material and labour costs can also affect project budgets and the financial exposure associated with construction work. Skills shortages may create further operational challenges, particularly where businesses depend on specialist workers and subcontractors.
In this environment, brokers with detailed knowledge of construction risks can help businesses understand their insurance requirements and identify appropriate cover.
The Blackhawk acquisition gives Clear Group additional specialist expertise in a sector where contractors may require advice on areas such as contract works, liability, professional indemnity and surety. The specific insurance arrangements available to individual customers will depend on their circumstances and the policies offered by insurers.
Does the acquisition reflect wider consolidation in the UK insurance market?
The acquisition is part of a wider pattern of consolidation among insurance brokers, with larger groups seeking to expand through the purchase of specialist businesses.
Clear Group’s recent transactions demonstrate its interest in adding capabilities through acquisitions. Its purchase of Blackhawk follows other deals involving businesses operating in wholesale broking and specialist insurance markets.
Josh Recamara of Insurance Business reported that the transaction took place against a quieter background for UK insurance distribution deals. The report cited MarshBerry data showing that there were two UK insurance distribution transactions in October 2026, the lowest monthly total in nearly ten years.
The report also noted that several previously active consolidators had not completed UK deals during the year.
This context makes Clear’s continued acquisition activity notable, although one transaction does not establish a wider change in market conditions. The Blackhawk deal demonstrates that specialist brokers can remain attractive acquisition targets where their expertise complements the strategy of a larger group.
For construction-focused brokers, established client relationships and detailed sector knowledge may be important business strengths. For larger insurance groups, acquiring these capabilities can provide a route into specialist markets and broaden the services available to customers.
What could the acquisition mean for construction businesses and insurance clients?
For Blackhawk’s existing customers, the main stated intention is to retain the specialist service and industry knowledge associated with the business while providing access to Clear Group’s wider resources.
The acquisition may give the broker a broader platform from which to develop its construction insurance proposition. However, the companies have not announced specific changes to policy terms, premiums, claims arrangements or customer contracts as part of the transaction.
Customers should therefore continue to refer to their existing policy documents and contact their broker directly about any changes affecting their cover or service arrangements.
For the wider construction sector, the transaction highlights the continuing role of specialist insurance advice in a market exposed to financial and operational risks.
Businesses working in Construction and Civil Engineering need to consider how insurance, contractual responsibilities and project risks interact. Understanding these issues is relevant not only to insurance professionals but also to managers, procurement teams and project leaders responsible for construction operations.
The acquisition also has implications for Management, particularly in relation to business growth, integration and the development of specialist services. Clear’s stated approach of combining targeted acquisitions with organic growth illustrates how businesses can expand their capabilities while seeking to preserve the strengths of acquired organisations.
As the transaction progresses, the extent to which Clear can develop Blackhawk’s construction specialism while maintaining its established client service will be an important measure of the acquisition’s success.