Willis Limited

Reference number: 310186

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Authorised by the FCA

This firm is on the FCA register and authorised to carry out regulated activities.

Website, phone number and address

Compare these against whatever you were given. Scammers clone real firm names and reference numbers but use their own phone number and website, so a detail that does not match the register is the clearest warning sign there is.

In the full report: 3 background checks, 1 thing worth a closer look

  • When wtwco.com first appeared online, and whether it can receive email
  • What kind of line 020 3124 6000 is, and the 3 other firms that give it
  • Whether EC3M 7DQ is a shared office: 27 other firms give it
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Other names (166)

If you were contacted under any of these names, it is this firm.

  • Cherrypicked Insurance Trading name
  • Facultative Trading name
  • FAJS Trading name
  • Japan Global Practice Group Trading name
  • National Technical Practice Trading name
  • Project Risks Practice Trading name
  • SCR Trading name
  • Special Contingency Risks Trading name
  • Willis Client Academy Trading name
  • Willis Towers Watson Trading name
  • Willis Towers Watson 360°Enterprise Trading name
  • Willis Towers Watson Facultative Trading name
  • Willis Towers Watson Insolvency Services Trading name
  • Willis Towers Watson Networks Trading name
  • WTW Trading name
  • 360°Enterprise Former trading name
  • Acclimatise Former trading name
  • Brooklands Policy Former trading name
  • Classic Vehicles Former trading name
  • Corporate Risk Solutions Former trading name
  • Corporate Risk Solutions - London & Ipswich Former trading name
  • Corporate Risk Solutions Practices Former trading name
  • CRS London & Ipswich Former trading name
  • Customer & Employee Solutions Former trading name
  • Faber Casualty Former trading name
  • Faber & Dumas Former trading name
  • Faber Global Former trading name
  • Faber Global Marine Former trading name
  • Faber Property Former trading name
  • Faber Recall Former trading name
  • Financial Solutions Former trading name
  • FINEX Global Former trading name
  • FINEX National Former trading name
  • FINMAR Market Services Former trading name
  • Food & Drink Practice Former trading name
  • Global Aerospace UK Former trading name
  • Global Construction Services Former trading name
  • Global Risk Partners Former trading name
  • Hughes Gibb Former trading name
  • Incoming Business Unit Former trading name
  • Insurance for you Former trading name
  • International Trade and Logistics Claims Former trading name
  • International Trade and Logistics Premiums Former trading name
  • Japanese Business Unit Former trading name
  • Japan Global Practice Group UK Former trading name
  • Jigsaw Former trading name
  • Leisure & Hospitality Practice Former trading name
  • Manufacturing & Industrial Practice Former trading name
  • Marine International Trade & Logistics Former trading name
  • Marine International Trade & Logistics Claims Former trading name
  • Marine Shipowners and Special Risks Former trading name
  • Marine Shipowners Claims Former trading name
  • Marine Shipowners Premiums Former trading name
  • National Claims Centre Former trading name
  • National Product Distribution Former trading name
  • O'Leary Prime Former trading name
  • Prime IFA Solutions Former trading name
  • Prime International Former trading name
  • Prime Professions Former trading name
  • Prime Risk Solutions Former trading name
  • Project Risk Consulting Former trading name
  • Real Estate Practice Former trading name
  • Retail Practice Former trading name
  • Rewards just for you Former trading name
  • RH Classic Car Former trading name
  • RH Classic Car Motor Insurance Former trading name
  • RH Classic Motorcycle Former trading name
  • RH My Home Former trading name
  • RH Specialist Car Division Former trading name
  • RH Specialist Car Insurance Scheme Former trading name
  • RH Specialist Insurance Former trading name
  • RH Specialist Vehicle Insurance Former trading name
  • Richard Oliver International Former trading name
  • Risk Solutions Former trading name
  • Services Practice Former trading name
  • Shipowners Claims, Marine Former trading name
  • Shipowners Claims, Marine Division Former trading name
  • Special Construction Services Former trading name
  • Specialist Advisory Services Former trading name
  • Specialities & Solutions Former trading name
  • Structured Risk Solutions Former trading name
  • Transport Practice Former trading name
  • UK Claims Services Former trading name
  • Utilities Practice Former trading name
  • Veagis Former trading name
  • Willis 360° Enterprise Former trading name
  • Willis 360° Facilities Former trading name
  • Willis Aerospace Advisory Services Former trading name
  • Willis Aerospace Analytical Risk Management Former trading name
  • Willis Aerospace Consulting Former trading name
  • Willis Aerospace Contractual Services Former trading name
  • Willis Aerospace Training Services Former trading name
  • Willis Belfast Former trading name
  • Willis Brew Former trading name
  • Willis Captive Practice Former trading name
  • Willis Claims Consulting Former trading name
  • Willis Claims Management Former trading name
  • Willis Commercial Network Former trading name
  • Willis Corporate Former trading name
  • Willis Corporate Recovery Services Former trading name
  • Willis Corporate Regions Former trading name
  • Willis Corporate Risk Solutions Regions Former trading name
  • Willis Credit Risks Former trading name
  • Willis Customer & Employee Solutions Former trading name
  • Willis Employee and Member Solutions Former trading name
  • Willis Employee Benefits Practice Former trading name
  • Willis Employee Solutions Former trading name
  • Willis Energy Former trading name
  • Willis Enterprise & Risk Finance Practice Former trading name
  • Willis Environmental Practice Former trading name
  • Willis eQuote Former trading name
  • Willis Executive Risks Practice Former trading name
  • Willis Faber & Dumas Former trading name
  • Willis Food & Drink Practice Former trading name
  • Willis Global Captive Practice Former trading name
  • Willis Global Energy Former trading name
  • Willis Global Environmental Practice Former trading name
  • Willis Global Solutions Former trading name
  • Willis Health & Social Care Practice Former trading name
  • Willis Insolvency Services Former trading name
  • Willis Inspace Former trading name
  • Willis Insurance Services Former trading name
  • Willis Leisure & Hospitality Practice Former trading name
  • Willis Loss Management Former trading name
  • Willis Major Accounts Former trading name
  • Willis Manufacturing & Industrial Practice Former trading name
  • Willis Mergers & Acquisitions Practice Former trading name
  • Willis Midlands Former trading name
  • Willis Mid-Market Former trading name
  • Willis Motor Claimsline Former trading name
  • Willis N2 Former trading name
  • Willis Networks Former trading name
  • Willis North Former trading name
  • Willis Northern Ireland Former trading name
  • Willis Partnerships Former trading name
  • Willis Policy Preparation Team Former trading name
  • Willis Practices Former trading name
  • Willis Private Clients Former trading name
  • Willis Private Clients and Affinity Partnerships Former trading name
  • Willis Re Former trading name
  • Willis Real Estate Practice Former trading name
  • Willis Restructuring & Advisory Former trading name
  • Willis Restructuring & Advisory Services Former trading name
  • Willis Retail Practice Group Former trading name
  • Willis Risk Management Former trading name
  • Willis SAFE Former trading name
  • Willis Scotland Former trading name
  • Willis Services Practice Former trading name
  • Willis South Former trading name
  • Willis South East Region Former trading name
  • Willis Specialist Advisory Services Former trading name
  • Willis Technology Practice Former trading name
  • Willis Transport Practice Former trading name
  • Willis UK Claims Services Former trading name
  • Willis UK & Ireland, Practices Former trading name
  • Willis UK Retail Former trading name
  • Willis UK Retail, Practices Former trading name
  • Willis Underwriting Former trading name
  • Willis Underwriting Facility Former trading name
  • Willis Underwriting Programmes Former trading name
  • Willis Utilities Practice Former trading name
  • Willis Wales & West Former trading name
  • WUKI L&I Former trading name
  • WUKR Former trading name
  • WUKR L&I Former trading name
  • www.rhclassicinsurance.co.uk Former trading name

FCA permissions and consumer protection

  • Hold or safeguard your money · Manage or trade investments FSCS may apply
    Eligible investment and pension claims are typically FSCS-protected up to £85,000 per person, depending on the product and your circumstances.
  • Give regulated advice FSCS may apply
    A claim for unsuitable advice is itself FSCS-protected, up to the limit that applies to the product you were advised on.
  • Sell or arrange insurance FSCS may apply
    Eligible insurance claims may be FSCS-protected, often 90%, or 100% for compulsory or long-term cover.
  • Lend or arrange credit No FSCS cover
    Consumer credit is not covered by the FSCS, so there is no compensation scheme if the firm fails.
  • Complaints Ombudsman, free
    You can refer a complaint about this firm to the Financial Ombudsman Service for free, whichever activity it relates to.
Show FCA detail (6 permissions)
  • Advising on investments (except on Pension Transfers and Pension Opt Outs)
  • Arranging (bringing about) deals in investments
  • Assisting in the administration and performance of a contract of insurance
  • Credit Broking
  • Dealing in investments as agent
  • Making arrangements with a view to transactions in investments

FCA disciplinary action

FCA action

fine
1
in fines
£6.89m
most recent
July 2011
  • Fined £6.89m on 21 July 2011
    On 21 July 2011, the FSA imposed a financial penalty of £6,895,000 on Willis Limited for breaches of Principle 3 of the FSA's Principles for Businesses and SYSC 3.2.6 R of the FSA's Senior Management Arrangements, Systems and Controls Handbook which occurred between 14 January 2005 and 31 December 2009. The breaches related to the actions taken by Willis Limited to counter the risks of bribery and corruption associated with making payments to non-FSA authorised overseas third parties (Overseas Third Parties) who assisted Willis Limited in winning business from overseas clients, particularly in high risk jurisdictions. Willis Limited agreed to settle at an early stage of the FSA's investigation. It therefore qualifies for a 30%(Stage 1) discount under the FSA's executive settlement procedures. Were it not for this discount, the FSA would have proposed the imposition of a financial penalty of £9,850,000 on Willis Limited. Willis Limited did not take reasonable care to establish and maintain effective systems and controls for countering the risks of bribery and corruption associated with making payments to Overseas Third Parties who helped Willis Limited win and retain business from overseas clients. In particular between January 2005 and August 2008: (1) Willis Limited failed to ensure that it established and recorded an adequate commercial rationale to support its payments to Overseas Third Parties. An adequate business case would have demonstrated in each case why it was necessary for Willis Limited to use an Overseas Third Party to win business and what services Willis Limited would receive from that Overseas Third Party in return for a share of its commission. Willis Limited's policies did not provide any written guidance on the amount of detail required when recording why it was necessary to use an Overseas Third Party. No formal training was provided to staff in this matter who only recorded a very brief description of the reasons for the commission payment and what services Willis Limited would receive in return. The FSA's investigation found for nearly all of the Overseas Third Parties based in high risk jurisdictions who introduced business to Willis Limited between January 2005 and August 2008, Willis Limited's reason for sharing commission was inadequately recorded. Without adequate documentation, Willis Limited could not adequately monitor the effectiveness of its procedures. (2) Willis Limited did not ensure that adequate due diligence was carried out on Overseas Third Parties to evaluate the risk involved in doing business with them. Such due diligence would have, for example, enabled Willis Limited to assess whether the Overseas Third Party was connected with the insured, the insurer or public officials. These are significant factors in assessing the risk that Overseas Third Parties might in turn make improper payments to help Willis Limited win or retain business from overseas clients. Although some due diligence was carried out on Overseas Third Parties based in high risk jurisdictions who introduced business to Willis Limited between January 2005 and August 2008, we found that in nearly all cases Willis Limited did not carry out enough due diligence to address the risk that the Overseas Third Parties may have been connected to the insured, the insurer or public officials. (3) Whilst Willis Limited did review the reason for sharing commission regularly, it failed to review in sufficient detail its relationships with Overseas Third Parties on a regular basis to confirm that it was still necessary and appropriate for Willis Limited to continue with the relationship. (4) Willis Limited did not adequately monitor its staff to ensure that each time it engaged an Overseas Third Party an adequate commercial rationale had been recorded and that sufficient due diligence had been carried out. These failures contributed to a weak control environment surrounding the making of payments toverseas Third Parties. This gave rise to an unacceptable risk that payments made by Willis Limited to Overseas Third Parties could be used for corrupt purposes, including paying bribes to persons connected with the insured, the insurer or public officials. In August 2008, Willis Limited introduced improved policies and guidance which were aimed at mitigating its bribery and corruption risks. However, Willis Limited failed to ensure those policies were adequately implemented. Willis Limited staff continued in a substantial number of cases to fail to carry out sufficient due diligence to support its payments to Overseas Third Parties. Although in late 2008 it reviewed how its new policies were operating in practice (which resulted in revised guidance being introduced in May 2009), Willis Limited should have taken additional steps between August 2008 and May 2009 to ensure that its improved policies were adequately implemented by staff and that failures by staff to adhere to the new policies were identified in a timely manner. The Willis Limited Board was involved from 2007 in the development of these new anti-bribery and corruption policies. However, the Board did not receive sufficient relevant management information regarding the performance of these new policies which would have allowed them to assess whether bribery and corruption risks were being mitigated effectively. The FSA considers these failings to be serious because: (1) The involvement of UK financial institutions in corrupt or potentially corrupt practices overseas undermines the integrity of the UK financial services sector. Unless they have in place robust systems and controls which govern the circumstances in which payments may be made to third parties and then ensure those systems and controls are followed, UK financial services firms risk contravening UK and/or overseas anti-bribery laws. The FSA's financial crime and market confidence statutory objectives are both endangered by UK firms' failures in this regard. (2) Willis Limited is one of the largest insurance and reinsurance brokerage and risk management firms in the UK. As such, it has a leading competitive position in the market and the firm's practices set an example which is seen by other market practitioners and customers. (3) The failings identified principally existed in two of Willis Limited's major business units for a significant period. (4) The failings in both Willis Limited's policies and the implementation of those policies, increased the risk that a payment made to an Overseas Third Party could be used for corrupt purposes. During our investigation, Willis Limited identified as suspicious a number of payments which it had made to two Overseas Third Parties in respect of business carried out in Egypt and Russia during the Relevant Period. It reported these matters to the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA). These payments totalled approximately US $227,000. The first suspicious activity report (SAR) arose as part of Willis' detailed review of Overseas Third Parties following the commencement of our investigation. The other SAR arose as a result of a generally increased focus on bribery and corruptions risks both within Willis and the industry more generally, including the FSA's thematic review of this area. (5) The revenue earned by Willis Limited relating to these breaches is significant. Over the course of the Relevant Period, the gross commission earned by Willis Limited from business introduced by Overseas Third Parties based in high risk jurisdictions amounted to approximately £59.7 million. Of this, Willis Limited paid approximately £27 million in commission to these Overseas Third Parties. The payments made to these Overseas Third Parties therefore accounted for around 45% of the brokerage earned. The FSA did not seek to determine as part of its investigation whether any of this business was corrupt. The net commission earned by Wils Limited relating to Overseas Third Parties in high risk jurisdictions during the Relevant Period represented approximately 1% of Willis Limited's total net revenue during this period. (6) The FSA did not find evidence to suggest that Willis Limited's conduct was either deliberate or reckless. Nonetheless, as Willis Limited was aware of the bribery and corruption risks associated with making payments to Overseas Third Parties to obtain or retain business, particularly in high risk jurisdictions, it should have taken additional steps to monitor the adequacy of its procedures once implemented between January 2005 and May 2009. (7) In November 2007, the FSA sent a 'Dear CEO' letter to all wholesale insurance broker firms, including Willis Limited. This letter affirmed the FSA's expectations in relation to payments to third parties and expected firms to review their business practices to ensure that they were not involved in, or associated with, illicit payments. Willis Group had already by this time begun to review its existing policies in respect of payments to Overseas Third Parties and develop new policies to mitigate the associated bribery and corruption risks which were later introduced in August 2008. In January 2009, the FSA fined Aon Limited for breaching Principle 3 of the FSA's Principles for Businesses for failing to take reasonable care to establish and maintain effective systems and controls to counter the risks of bribery and corruption associated with making payments to overseas firms and individuals who assisted Aon in winning or retaining business. By this time, Willis had taken some steps to review the effectiveness of the policy introduced in August 2008. However, notwithstanding the 'Dear CEO' letter and the Aon fine, there continued to be failings in Willis Limited's implementation of these policies as described above up until May 2009. Willis Limited's failings therefore merit the imposition of a significant financial penalty. In deciding the size of the penalty, the FSA recognises that the following circumstances serve to mitigate the seriousness of Willis Limited's failings:: (1) Willis Limited had sought to mitigate the risks of bribery and corruption in its business activities from 2007. A Group wide review was initiated by Willis Group's office of General Counsel in April 2007. Willis Limited introduced new policies and procedures as a result of this review in August 2008. Willis Limited reviewed its policies shortly after this, having monitored the implementation of the August 2008 policy and given consideration to the guidance given in the Aon decision in January 2009. As a result, further guidance was issued in May 2009. Willis Limited's proactive efforts thereby resulted in an improved control environment. (2) Since May 2009 and following the end of the Relevant Period, Willis Limited has taken steps to address the failings identified in this notice. This includes the introduction of new and enhanced systems and controls in relation to anti-bribery and corruption, restructuring the financial arrangements in relation to business unit compliance officers in order to strengthen the independence of the compliance function and improving systems relating to documentation which will facilitate the production of relevant management information. (3) Willis has, where appropriate, taken disciplinary action in relation to staff who it alleges have been involved in the making of potentially inappropriate payments or who failed to comply with Willis' policy. (4) Willis is committed to carrying out a comprehensive and robust risk based review of past payments made to Overseas Third Parties in order to satisfy itself and demonstrate to the FSA that it has identified any potentially inappropriate payments to Overseas Third Parties made during the Relevant Period. (5) In carrying out these steps, Willis Limited has to date incurred significant costs both in financial temsand in management time expended. (6) Since the commencement of the FSA's investigation in August 2010, Willis Limited, Willis Group and both their current senior management have cooperated with the FSA's investigation.

The Financial Ombudsman Service only publishes complaint figures for firms with 30 or more new complaints in six months, so there are none here for this firm.

Companies House record

The company behind the firm: its status, age, registered office and directors.

Company number
00181116
Company status
Active
Company type
Private limited company
Incorporated
12 April 1922 (104 years old)
Registered office
51 Lime Street, London, EC3M 7DQ
Nature of business
  • Non-life insurance (SIC 65120)
  • Non-life reinsurance (SIC 65202)

Directors and company secretaries

Name Role Born Appointed Other companies
Alastair John Pardoe Swift Director Mar 1970 8 Jun 2016 3 other companies
Rosemary Hilary Director May 1955 6 Oct 2016 10 other companies
Richard James Vanner Director Jun 1973 16 Apr 2019 1 other company
Stuart William Sinclair Director Jun 1953 11 Mar 2020 22 other companies
Thomas Fraser Webb Director Mar 1971 28 Mar 2022 3 other companies
Edward Albert Castles Director Aug 1964 24 Jun 2022 1 other company
Marcia Dominic Campbell Director Mar 1959 29 Aug 2023 None
Steven James Alcock Director May 1979 4 Dec 2025 1 other company
Valerie Suzanne Andre Secretary Not published 18 Nov 2021 –

Other companies run by these 8 directors

A firm is run by people, and their other companies are their track record: what they built, what closed, and anything that failed. It is the check most people never think to make.

other companies
40
closed down
7
are FCA-registered
15

In the full report: all 40 companies, named

  • What each company does, and whether it is still trading
  • Which of these 8 directors sit on each board, and since when
  • Any that went into liquidation or administration
  • The 15 on the FCA register, including one no longer authorised
  • The 1 company these 8 directors run together
  • All 99 people who have ever been directors, with their dates
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Filed accounts and finances

Year to 31 December 2025Full accountsAudited

Turnover

£1127.0m

No earlier figure to compare

Profit before tax

£261.0m

No earlier figure to compare

Net assets

£793.0m

No earlier figure to compare

Employees (average)

3,106

No earlier figure to compare

About these figures
Turnover
Money taken from sales in the year, before any costs.
Profit before tax
What was left after the year’s costs, before corporation tax. A minus figure is a loss.
Net assets, or total equity
Everything the company owns minus everything it owes. A minus figure means it owes more than it owns.
Total assets and total liabilities
Everything the company owns, and everything it owes, on the last day of the year. The gap between them is its net assets.
Cash at bank
Money in the company’s accounts on the last day of the year.
Owed within a year, owed after a year
Debts and bills due in the next twelve months, and those due later.

Accounts filed at Companies House for company 00181116. Every figure is as filed, apart from total assets and total liabilities, which are added up from filed figures. Nothing is estimated.

Key dates in its history

Willis’s history from the FCA register and Companies House, newest first.

Key events (8) All events (489)

2024

16 December 2024

  • Willis Faber Limited gave up control
  • Willis Group Limited took control (75–100% of shares)

Companies House

2016

6 April 2016

  • Willis Faber Limited took control (75–100% of shares)

Companies House

2013

1 April 2013

  • Regulated by the FCA from this date

FCA register

2011

21 July 2011

  • Fined £6.89m by the FCA

FCA register

2005

14 January 2005

  • Regulated by the Financial Services Authority from this date
  • Became authorised by the FCA

FCA register

1922

12 April 1922

  • Incorporated at Companies House

Companies House

In the full report: all 489 events

  • All 489 events in its history (8 shown here)
  • Every director appointment and resignation: 160
Instant PDF download

Firms connected to Willis

Other FCA-listed firms that share a director, phone number or address with Willis. A link shows who the firm is tied to, not whether either can be trusted.

connected firms
5
share a director
2
share its phone number
3

In the full report: all 5 connected firms, named

  • How each is linked: shared directors (2), the same phone number (3), the same postcode (2)
  • Who links each one: the named directors, with dates
  • 10 past links through former directors
Instant PDF download

Firms like Willis

Other firms of the same type (insurance broker), nearest first.

In London

Amazon EU S.a.r.l.LondonAuthorisedRevolut Travel LtdLondonAuthorisedSantander Insurance Services UK LimitedLondonAuthorisedAon UK LimitedLondonAuthorisedHartford Underwriting Agency LimitedLondonAuthorisedChubb Underwriting Agencies LimitedLondonAuthorised

Firms are listed by type and location, best known first. Being listed is not a recommendation: check any firm before you deal with it.

Get the full report on Willis

Everything on this page, plus everything locked above, in one dated PDF you can keep, file or send on.

  • 40 other companies its directors have run, named
  • 3 background checks on its contact details, 1 flagged
  • All 489 events in its history
  • 5 connected firms, named, and who links them

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Frequently asked questions about this firm

Is Willis Limited FCA authorised?
Yes, Willis Limited (FRN 310186) is authorised by the FCA to carry out regulated activities. It has held its current authorisation since January 2005 and works as an insurance broker. The FCA has placed no limits on its permissions.
What is Willis’ phone number and website?
The FCA register lists the phone number 020 3124 6000 and the website wtwco.com for Willis. If you were given different contact details, use these to check with the firm before going any further. The same number is also given by 3 other FCA firms.
Is Willis a scam or clone?
Willis is a genuine FCA-listed firm, and the FCA has published no warnings about fake versions of it. Scammers do copy real firms, though, so check that any contact details you were given match the ones on the register.
Is my money safe with Willis?
It is permitted to hold and control client money, which it must keep separate from its own. It depends on the product, but eligible claims may be protected by the FSCS. You can also refer complaints about Willis to the Financial Ombudsman Service, free of charge.
Who owns Willis?
Willis is owned by Willis Group Limited, which holds 75–100% of shares, 75–100% of votes and can appoint and remove the board, since 16 December 2024. Before that, it was controlled by Willis Faber Limited.
Who runs Willis?
Companies House lists 8 directors of Willis: Alastair John Pardoe Swift, Rosemary Hilary, Richard James Vanner, Stuart William Sinclair, Thomas Fraser Webb, Edward Albert Castles and 2 more.
How long has Willis been in business?
The company was formed on 12 April 1922, and has held its current FCA authorisation since January 2005.
What do Willis’ latest accounts show?
Its latest accounts, to 31 December 2025, show turnover of £1127.0m (no earlier figure to compare) and profit before tax of £261.0m (no earlier figure to compare).
Has the FCA taken action against Willis?
Yes. The FCA register records 1 fine in 2011, £6.89m in total. The details are in the disciplinary section above, with links to the FCA's notices.
Does Willis use any other names?
It trades as Cherrypicked Insurance, Facultative, FAJS, Japan Global Practice Group and National Technical Practice, and 10 more names. It has previously used 151 other names, including 360°Enterprise, Acclimatise and Brooklands Policy.

Sources and links

The full report on Willis Limited

£19.99 · Instant PDF download

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