Gallagher expands education expertise with acquisition of MC Mutual Management Services Limited

MCMM is a service provider to Education Mutual Limited, a mutual provider that offers staff absence protection to its members, which are primarily UK state schools and academies. MCMM has a multi-year agreement to provide services to Education Mutual including processing of new business quotes, renewal invitations, handling contributions, managing claims and other back-office functions.

A significant expense incurred by schools is the cost of sourcing and hiring replacement staff in the event of sickness or other absence, and staff absence insurance is an increasingly popular way of mitigating this risk and assisting schools in managing their budgets and protecting against unexpected costs. Education Mutual is the largest provider of staff absence protection in the UK and the products which MCMM administers includes cover for employee leave for reasons including maternity, adoption, bereavement, ill health & accident, plus jury service.

Founded in 2018, MCMM is headed up by Director, Les Marshall and has 23 employees based in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. Les and his team will continue in their current roles and the business will become part of Gallagher’s public sector and education practice, led by Regional Managing Director, Tim Devine. Gallagher already has an extensive education client base, and building on the acquisition of FE Protect in 2023, this new acquisition marks continued investment in the expansion of this team.

Commenting on the acquisition, Tim said: “We are thrilled that MCMM has agreed to become part of our public sector and education practice. The products and expertise in the business are highly complementary to our current education offering and becoming part of Gallagher will provide them with a springboard for growth. Les has built a great team which understands the challenge that staff absence is for schools, and the financial damage that can happen when they do not mitigate the risk, so I am delighted to welcome them all to Gallagher.”

Les added: “Becoming part of Gallagher is fantastic news for our business and people. Culturally our two firms are closely aligned; Gallagher is known for its ethical approach and with us fully focused on supporting the needs of a mutual, which is owned by its members, we are confident that we are likeminded thinkers. Furthermore, Gallagher has a firm focus on providing clients with a great level of expertise and is just as focused on investment in great people, where support, career development and internal progression are to the fore.”