Guardian has joined Mortgage Intelligence’s protection panel, giving the firm access over 450 advisers at the network.

The deal will also see the protection provider access the mortgage club’s Next Intelligence offering that consists of over 4,000 advisers.

The insurer will be accessible on the Whole of Market (WOM) panel and available on the Prime panel as a plus 1 option alongside the core five providers.

Guardian sales director Hilary Banks says: “For me, it’s proof that more people are recognising the value of our approach. We came along as a challenger because we knew we could do things better.

“Three years in and we’re winning more advocates daily. We look forward to working with Mortgage Intelligence networks, and club members, to show them how easy we are to do business with, and how we are building client trust in protection.”

Commenting on the partnership, Mortgage Intelligence managing director Sally Laker says: “We’re always looking to give our members the support, tools and training to succeed. That includes giving them access to the best propositions the market has to offer. We welcome Guardian to our protection panel and are keen to offer our members Guardian’s many innovative features, designed to give better client outcomes and certainty at claim.”

Mortgage Intelligence head of protection Angela Davidson adds: “Guardian brings a fresh approach to life and critical illness cover and is the very reason we’re delighted to be working with them. Their motto ‘Life. Made Better.’ is testimony to their commitment to look at protection in a new way that best serves both clients and advisers.”

The partnership comes at a time when Guardian is offering all its registered advisers and their immediate families free access to its GP 24/7 service until 31 December 2021.

The service, provided by Guardian’s partner HealthHero, gives users access to a GP consultation with a UK-based doctor.

The consultation can be at any time, on any day, from any location and device.

It can be used to provide medication support, as well as private prescriptions and referrals. The offer of access to the service, usually only available to policyholders, has been well received by the advice community given the current healthcare context.

Over 1,100 advisers have registered for the offer and 98 have used it so far. Advisers who wish to use the GP 24/7 service do not need to have written any business with Guardian to qualify.

The offer is available to all advisers who register with Guardian between now and the end of the year.