Skipton Building Society Partners with LifeSearch to Provide Life Insurance advice to Over One Million Members

WHY THIS MATTERS

Skipton Building Society’s partnership with LifeSearch marks a strategic shift from a single-provider protection model to a broker-based approach, reflecting growing consumer demand for greater choice and transparency when purchasing insurance products. Research from LifeSearch shows that nearly two-thirds of consumers prefer access to policies from multiple insurers rather than being limited to one provider. By adopting a broker model, Skipton can now offer members a wider selection of life insurance, critical illness and income protection products from across the market.

Skipton Building Society today announces a strategic partnership with one of the UK’s leading protection specialists, LifeSearch, marking its move from a single-tie arrangement to a broker model. The partnership will give Skipton’s one million+ members greater choice, better access to the wider market, and specialist tailored life insurance advice.

Skipton’s members will receive unbiased, expert advice throughout their protection journey with access to life insurance, critical illness and income protection products from leading insurers including household names and specialist providers. LifeSearch’s team of over 280 expert advisers will provide tailored recommendations to help them find the right cover for their circumstances.

The move responds to clear consumer demand for choice and value. New research¹ from LifeSearch reveals that almost two-thirds (62%) of consumers consider it important to access products from multiple insurers – not just one – when seeking life insurance through financial institutions such as banks, building societies or high-street retailers. Additionally, 7 in 10 (69%) would want fair prices underpinned by comprehensive market comparison when taking out life insurance in this way.

With a network of over 82 branches, the move to a broker model enables the UK’s fourth largest building society to offer its members greater choice and access to competitive protection products, whilst maintaining the high standards of service and advice the Society is renowned for.

Debbie Kennedy, Chief Executive at LifeSearch, said: “This partnership reflects a shared commitment to delivering greater value and better outcomes for customers. By supporting Skipton Building Society in its move to a broker model, we’re empowering members with specialist protection advice and wider market access so they can make confident decisions about the cover that’s right for them. Together, we continue to raise the bar across the industry, championing guidance and support that works for everyone.”

Alex Sitaras, Head of Savings and Partnerships at Skipton Building Society, commented: “Partnering with LifeSearch is an important step in giving our members more choice, better value and the confidence that they’re getting the right protection for their circumstances. Moving to a broker model means our members can access expert, unbiased advice and a wider range of products from across the market – all while receiving the same trusted service they expect from Skipton.”

The partnership reflects LifeSearch’s wider ambition to champion broker models, in its belief that moving away from single-tie arrangements ensures consumers receive unbiased advice and access to the best products and value for their needs. Alongside Skipton Building Society, LifeSearch already works with a range of partners including Which?, Lloyds Banking Group, Yorkshire Building Society, Compare the Market, MoneySuperMarket, and PensionBee.

Debbie Kennedy concluded: “Our research reinforces what we’re seeing across the industry – consumers want genuine choice and access to the wider market. Moving to a broker model isn’t just good practice; it’s what customers are clearly telling us they value. This partnership shows how forward-thinking companies like Skipton are listening and responding to those needs.”

LifeSearch is one of the UK’s leading protection advice specialists, blending technology with expert human advice. Since 1998, it has helped over one million people, families and businesses secure 1.7 million policies through its team of 280 specialist advisers. LifeSearch has innovated by embedding protection into wider conversations, reaching consumers in underserved markets to support its ambition to protect people properly.

FF NEWS TAKE
The shift from single-tie insurance partnerships to broker-style models is gaining momentum across the UK financial services sector.

Consumers increasingly expect financial institutions to provide access to the best products available across the market rather than being limited to a single insurer. Skipton’s move highlights how building societies are adapting to these expectations by partnering with specialist advisers to deliver broader product access while maintaining trusted customer relationships.