We can now reveal that over 65% of  brokers are confident about their overall business growth prospects for the next 12 months, despite recent talk of a double dip recession.

These results came about as a result of our annual broker survey, which took place between March and April 2012. Brokers were asked to state whether they thought business would deteriorate, stay the same or improve - for their overall business and for business from personal and commercial lines.

In its fourth year the survey also reveals that brokers remain loyal to Sterling as 79% rated it's High Net Worth polices as good/excellent and 81% rated their Commercial Executive Business as good/excellent. Likewise 75% of those surveyed rated Sterling's claims service as good/excellent which is a dramatic increase of 20% over the preceding 12 months.

David Sweeney, Head of Commercial and Personal lines at Sterling, comments:

"Our annual broker survey is an excellent way of communicating with the brokers who make our business what it is. Reliable products and a strong customer service ethos are as important to brokers as the professionalism of our staff. This is illustrated by the fact that Sterling recently committed itself to the CII Aldermanbury Declaration and also achieved CII Chartered Status for our household, commercial claims and underwriting teams.

"Sterling now has a regional presence in Manchester with local experienced underwriters and regional development managers on hand for all our brokers. Opening this office is part of our overall strategy to ensure that our brokers get access to the right people at the right time and that Sterling understands their individual and specific needs. Once the model has proved successful, we will of course consider other regional offices."