40 Years of Expert Help: A Timeline

Published by Jessica Handyside

June 12, 2025

1980’s

  • The company is formed as Loss Recovery Schemes Limited on 12th June 1985.
  • The Company adopts its first logo. An angel, depicting how the Company brings expert help at a time of great need.
  • Neill Johnstone joins the company to help develop and grow the business in April 1988.
  • The team of 4 is based in offices in Clapham South, SW4.
  • Hurricane Gilbert hits the Caribbean in September 1988, generating the first high profile claim for the team.

1990’s

  • Renamed as Loss Recovery Group Limited (LRG). An early version of the present Loss Recovery Insurance scheme is emerging with a small number of early adopting UK wide network of supporting insurance brokers, with capacity at AIG.
  • The company expanded its claim reach with the creation of its first Chartered Loss Adjuster panel, supporting Loss Recovery Insurance and After the Event claims.
  • In 1991, the team was involved in the repatriation of Rocky the Dolphin from the UK to Turks and Caicos.
  • The UK suffered widespread flooding events, and the company dealt with its biggest claims to date, following several bombings by the IRA (1990 London Stock Exchange, 1992: Baltic Exchange, 1993: Harrods and Bishopsgate in the City, 1996: London Docklands and Manchester Arndale Centre).

2000’s

  • The new millennium came with a lot of changes for the business. As the broking network grew, and the panel of Chartered Loss Adjusters now UK wide (and Northern Ireland), the operations moved to the City of London, with capacity provided by NIG.
  • Aligning to industry standards, the products are available on Acturis.
  • Neill Johnstone advised the Standard Chartered Bank on our largest ever claim, following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre on 9/11.
  • In 2003, the Company becomes an approved cover holders at Lloyds with a AAA rated insurer.
  • 2003 also saw the start of a long-lasting relationship with BIBA.
  • In 2004, the Company rebrands, taking its existing LRG identity and expanding outwards to create a new identity LoReGa. It’s historic logo of an angel is also modernised, extracting the angel’s wing, turned 90 degrees to create the now highly recognised Lorega “swish”.
  • In 2006 Terry Wheatley joins the Company as Non-Executive Chairman.
  • In 2007, heavy storms battered the UK creating 28,500 insurance claims across the land. Lorega cemented its reputation for excellent customer service by successfully supporting a large number of these claims.
  • In 2008 Andy Mintern joins the company as Finance & Commercial Director.

2010’s

  • Lorega Solutions, is created in 2010 and lead by Angus Tucker. Lorega Solutions employs Chartered Loss Adjusters, who are regulated by the FCA, and adhere to the professional code of conduct of the Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters (CILA). The team dealt with large numbers of claims during surge events in 2013 and 2019.
  • Lorega becomes a founding member of the MGAA and Chartered MGA.
  • Lorega continued to develop the long standing relationship with the Lloyd’s capacity provider, and added a second capacity provider, Hiscox Insurance Company Ltd.
  • In 2010 Lorega redesigns its Logo and relaunches a new website.
  • In February 2016 Neill Johnstone, Terry Wheatley and Andy Mintern organise an MBO backed by Alcuin Capital.
  • As Lorega strives to stay innovative and support broker partners with the tools they need to make their jobs easier, Lorega Online, the company’s own Quote & Buy system is launched in 2011 and the FNOL (First Notification of Loss) functionality is added to the platform in 2017. The Live Video Streaming service to support Claims is introduced in 2019.
  • Lorega expands its range of products and services with the launch of a simpler version of LRI, Lorega 10, as well as new professional services BCP Expert and Liability Expert in 2015, Surveying Services in 2019.
  • BIBA choses Lorega as their official scheme provider for Loss Recovery Insurance in May 2016 and for After the Event claims assistance in April 2017. We are proud to remain scheme providers to this date.
  • Lorega launches its first embedded product with Caring Professions
  • With the news systems and products innovations came a series of accolades:
    • BCP Expert wins the CIR Magazine Innovation Award in 2016.
    • Lorega ranks first in the Insurance Times Broker Service Survey for Commercial Lines for an unprecedented three years running in 2016, 2017/18 and 2018/19.

2020’s

  • The Covid-19 pandemic saw the business pick up an unprecedented number of claims, with a memorable day on 6th May 2020, when the Claims Team received 677 new claim notifications from the same broker in one day.
  • Lorega launches Legal Expert in partnership with Wynterhill LLP in 2021.
  • Lorega scores five stars in Insurance Times MGA Survey for 5 years running since the inception of the survey in 2020 and ranks first in 2020/21, 2021/22 and currently in 2024/25.
  • Stay tuned for more exciting developments in 2025…