Judges will be looking for evidence of:

• Delivering clients a quick and efficient service in their tax reporting and/or audit requirements;
• Case studies demonstrating where the firm has understood and responded well to a specific/unique set of requirements
• Numbers demonstrating growth in the firm 
• This category is open to companies who have operations in Europe offering accountancy, audit and tax services in the captive insurance industry
  

Judges will be looking for evidence of:

• Quality risk modelling, and details of the data behind actuarial decisions;
• Case studies demonstrating the performance of European captive clients;
• Numbers demonstrating growth/expansion in the actuarial firm itself;
• How the firm has introduced a new innovation and/or technology to the benefit of clients.
• This category is open to companies with European operations that offer actuarial services specifically for the captive insurance market.

Judges will be looking for evidence of:

• Initiatives that use AI to enhance captive operations, risk management, underwriting, claims, analytics, or decision-making.
• Entries should demonstrate how AI has delivered measurable improvements, created new capabilities, or transformed the way captive programmes are designed, managed, or serviced.
• The award is open to captive owners, managers, insurers, reinsurers, technology providers, and service firms supporting captive insurance who have operations in Europe.
  

Judges will be looking for evidence of:

• Expertise in risk management solutions;
• Case studies of the consultancy service provided to a European captive client and the positive outcomes this advice generated for the client;
• Customer satisfaction among captive clients;
• Growth in the captive consultancy itself
• This category is open to companies with European operations, that advise organisations on the formation, structuring, optimisation, and governance of captive insurance companies.

Judges will be looking for evidence of:

• Quality of the strategic planning and execution involved
• What emerging risks were written into the captive and why?
• Why the captive was required, and the benefit the captive has subsequently brought to the parent or group
• This category is open to companies with European operations that have set up a captive in the last 15 months

Judges will be looking for evidence of:

• Case studies demonstrating excellence in service to their captive owner clients backed by performance numbers;
• Growth in the captive manager itself, in both client numbers, written premium, and revenue;
• Ideas/innovations implemented to improve client satisfaction
• This category is open to companies with European operations that manage the administration, governance, and regulatory compliance of a captive insurance company on behalf of its owner.

Judges will be looking for evidence of:

• How the captive has benefitted the parent organisation or group
• The risk retention kept within the captive and why?
• What new innovation the captive has delivered, either for itself or the parent or group
• This category is open to companies with European operations that manage the insurance structure or arrangement through which risks are placed into a captive.

Judges will be looking for evidence of:

• Case studies of how the EB specialist delivered to a client an EB solution perfectly moulded to the specific needs of a business, and details of the challenges overcome to provide it
• Testimonials from clients of this specialist explaining how they stand out
• Evidence of specialist knowledge in the field of employee benefits
• Evidence of how the EB network/solution provides provides a service superior to competitors

Judges will be looking for evidence of:

• Case studies of how staff at the regulator engaged with a captive owner in either the formation of a new captive, or to overcome a persistent issue
• A willingness to embrace new ideas and innovation to the benefit of captive owners Evidence that the regulator is responsive and engaging with the captives it regulates
• Evidence that the regulator has sought to improve its captive department internally in the last year
• Evidence that the regulator has taken steps to support the captives it regulates eg through new regulation

Judges will be looking for evidence of:

• Innovative solutions and exceptional service in supporting captives.
• Entries should highlight case studies where the broker has delivered unique value or gone above and beyond in their advisory role.
• Evidence of growth and development in dedicated captive services will also be recognised.
• This category is open to companies with European operations that offer broking and advisory services specifically for the captive insurance market.

Judges will be looking for evidence of:

• Case studies of how staff at the international regulator engaged with a captive owner (with a European-based parent) in either the formation of a new captive, or to overcome a persistent issue
• A willingness to embrace new ideas and innovation to the benefit of captive owners
• Evidence that the regulator is responsive and engaging with the captives it regulates
• Evidence that the regulator has sought to improve its captive department internally in the last year
• Evidence that the regulator has taken steps to support the captives it regulates eg through new regulation

Judges will be looking for evidence of:

• How an asset manager or investment advisor has developed a specialist captive department to meet the captive industry's investment needs;
• Case studies of the lengths the investment specialist has gone to for a particular captive client to build them a well-constructed and balanced investment portfolio that produces impressive returns, backed by the financial numbers and comparisons to other rival's portfolios/industry standard;
• Numbers demonstrating the general returns of their captive clients and detail on the work that goes into improving these returns; numbers demonstrating growth in the investment specialist itself, both in client numbers and values invested

Judges will be looking for evidence of:

• A firm skilled in objectively assessing the business case for forming a captive and who accurately details the costs of establishing and managing the captive on an ongoing basis
• Client testimonials highlighting how the firm has gone above and beyond to help them
• This category is open to companies with European operations that provide analytical and advisory services to determine whether a company should establish a captive and what structure would be most appropriate.

Judges will be looking for evidence of:

• How an insurance company has provided a quality and efficient fronting service to European captives; case studies of how the fronter has developed a nuanced approach to fronting for a particular client, demonstrating an ability to adjust their proposition for specific client needs;
• Numbers demonstrating growth in the fronters proposition, in terms of both client numbers and premium fronted
• This category is open to licensed insurance companies that operate in Europe that issue insurance policies to the insured and then transfers most or all of the risk.

Judges will be looking for evidence of:

• How a legal department or law firm has delivered excellence in service to a European client and their captives;
• Case studies showing deep legal expertise in a specialist/niche area highly relevant to a particular client;
• Growth in the legal firm/department itself, backed by numbers

Judges will be looking for evidence of:

• A third-party reinsurer that has delivered innovative and compliant reinsurance solutions including strong underwriting expertise, and meaningful capacity to captive programmes across Europe.
• Entries should demonstrate market leadership, client impact, technical excellence, and a commitment to helping captive owners optimise their risk financing strategies.
• Case studies demonstrating innovative reinsurance structures that have delivered positive outcomes for European captive clients
• Strong market performance, including client relationships, service quality, and growth in the European captive sector
  

Judges will be looking for evidence of:

• Either a quality service from a company providing a software solution serving the European captive insurance market;
• Or an innovative insurtech solution that solves a problem
• Case studies showing how the software or insurtech solution meets a specific need from one or more captive clients; how the software or insurtech provider has utilised new technologies (eg. AI) to deliver a unique and groundbreaking product to the industry; numbers demonstrating growth in the utilisation of the solution.

Judges will be looking for evidence of:

• How a claims handling firm or TPA has gone above and beyond to provide excellence in customer service;
• A new initiative implemented that has substantially improved the efficiency/speed with which claims can be dealt with;
• Case studies where the claims handling firm/TPA has provided a quality service to handle a particularly challenging/specialist claim; numbers demonstrating growth in the firm itself

Judges will be looking for evidence of:

• How an insurance/reinsurance company has assisted a European-owned captive with a specialist underwriting solution;
• Case studies of how the insurer/reinsurer has helped a client with a range of services to support the success of the captive; growth in the underwriter's captive proposition, backed by numbers
  

Judges will be looking for evidence of:

• An individual demonstrating excellence in risk management performance, backed by numbers;
• Improvement in claims performance in one or multiple areas of the parent business;
• Case studies demonstrating the individual has implemented improved risk management processes at the parent organisation

Judges will be looking for evidence of:

• An individual demonstrating excellence in servicing a European captive insurance company, including details of how they have gone above and beyond to help a client or the industry as a whole;
• Case studies of the proactive steps they have taken in the last year to produce positive outcomes;
• Innovation and a willingness to take the industry to new places
• Client testimonials explaining what makes this individual stand out from their peers
• Operating in Europe, they usually have 10 years plus experience

Judges will be looking for evidence of:

• An individual who has been working in the captive industry for less than 10 years (approximately) who has demonstrated exceptional potential, innovation, and commitment to shaping the future of the sector
• Testimonials from clients and colleagues highlight how they stand out from their peers
  

The captive insurance industry lacks representation of women in senior positions. Organisations make better decisions and innovate more effectively when diverse voices are present. This category showcases women role models to inspire others to follow.

Judges will be looking for evidence of:

• An outstanding person who identifies as a woman who has made remarkable contributions to the captive insurance sector, breaking barriers and inspiring others through her leadership, expertise, and dedication.
• Case studies of the proactive steps they have taken in the last year to produce positive outcomes;
• Innovation and a willingness to take the industry to new places;
• Client testimonials explaining what makes this individual stand out from their peers 

The winner of this award is selected by Captive Review and not open to general nominations and judging by our panel (unlike the other categories). The award goes to an individual who has made a truly outstanding, long term contribution to the European captive insurance industry. If you’d like to put forward a name for consideration for 2026 then please complete the suggestion box.