Introducing Shepherd’s New Workers' Compensation Offering Powered by Expanded Program with Core Specialty
Today, Shepherd is announcing a new Workers’ Compensation offering. This admitted offering will be underwritten by Shepherd through Core Specialty Insurance Holdings, Inc.’s (“Core Specialty”) subsidiary, StarStone National Insurance Company with a rating of A (Excellent) by AM Best.1 With enhanced capabilities across underwriting, pricing, and loss control, Shepherd is bringing Workers’ Comp alongside General Liability and Commercial Auto as a fully integrated part of our Primary Casualty offering.
For brokers, that means more flexibility to package coverage for construction and renewable energy clients, backed by Shepherd’s signature speed, service, and use of data.
What changes for brokers
Our relationship with Core Specialty has supported Shepherd’s Workers’ Comp offering since early 2024. This expanded program builds on that foundation, bringing more of the underwriting and servicing experience together within Shepherd.
Expanded appetite: Shepherd uses its own data to evaluate Workers’ Comp risks, giving our underwriting team more flexibility to support accounts and build coverage around clients’ needs.
Connected servicing, at Shepherd speed: One Shepherd underwriting team brings together General Liability, Commercial Auto, Workers’ Comp, and Excess Casualty. Brokers get a coordinated approach to the account, with the fast responses and attentive service they expect from Shepherd throughout placement and servicing.
Shepherd Savings: Through Shepherd Savings, eligible clients can leverage technology to proactively manage risk and enhance operational performance. It gives brokers another way to bring value to the account: connecting clients’ investments in safer, higher-quality, and more predictable operations to savings on their insurance premiums.
A more comprehensive Shepherd platform
Every product we add should give brokers more ways to serve their clients. This program strengthens a platform built around a consistent approach: use data to understand risk, respond quickly, and support brokers with an underwriting team that knows the account.
Bringing more coverage together within Shepherd gives brokers greater flexibility to package Primary and Excess Casualty for construction and renewable energy clients. Our products share the same commitment to speed, underwriting expertise, and service.
Building this program took about 12 months of system and regulatory setup, culminating in NCCI approval in August and an expansion of eligibility across 36 states plus D.C. We are targeting completion across all remaining bureaus by mid-2027, covering the full 47-jurisdiction addressable market for private Workers' Compensation providers.
Built on our relationship with Core Specialty
Our relationship with Core Specialty spans General Liability, Commercial Auto, and Excess Casualty. This expanded Workers’ Compensation program builds on that broader relationship, giving brokers more ways to bring their clients’ primary and excess casualty coverage together through Shepherd, backed by Core Specialty.
Meet our Workers’ Compensation underwriting leader
Nicole Seyk leads technical underwriting for Shepherd’s Workers’ Compensation placements. She brings 16 years of insurance industry experience, including more than 10 years focused on underwriting. Nicole will guide the program’s underwriting approach and work with brokers to support Workers’ Comp placements as part of the broader Shepherd casualty offering.
Send us your next account
Have a Workers’ Comp account in construction or renewable energy? Bring it to your Shepherd underwriting team. We’ll review the fit and help you put the right coverage together for your client. Fast, as always.
1 Starstone National Insurance Company is a Delaware domiciled property and casualty insurance company, authorized in all states and the District of Columbia, with its principal place of business at 201 E. Fifth Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202, NAIC number 25496. Starstone National Insurance Company holds an AM Best rating of A (Excellent).