Skipton Building Society has entered a strategic partnership with protection specialist LifeSearch, marking its transition from a single-tie model to a broker arrangement. The move gives the Society’s one million+ members access to a wider range of life insurance, critical illness, and income protection products from multiple insurers, while maintaining high standards of service.
The shift reflects growing demand for choice in protection products. LifeSearch research indicates that 62% of clients value access to multiple insurers rather than a single provider, and 69% want fair prices underpinned by a comprehensive market comparison.
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 clients. 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, clients 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.
