Using unrated insurers perilous
Following the announcement that Gable is looking into a sale and is unable to comply with Solvency II, Towergate CEO David Ross said the consolidator's management would be meeting today to discuss the best way forward for its deal with the insurer.
For safe driving do the smart thing – do not use your phone
We all love our smart phones and use them frequently to take pictures and videos of family and friends which we share on social media sites like Facebook. What is worrying though, is that increasing numbers of UK drivers appear to be using their smart phones while on the road.
We’ve all heard stories of crashes caused by drivers texting. A recent survey of 1500 drivers has found almost a quarter who had seen an advert on the back of a lorry or van tried to enter the website address they had seen while still on the road.
Common sense tells us that texting and searching online while driving are a bad idea and could even be fatal...
How to avoid storing up trouble in a warehouse
TV footage of crews of firefighters trying to bring massive plumes of flame and smoke under control is every warehouse operator’s worst nightmare.
We may associate them more with riskier businesses such as storage of hazardous materials, for example chemicals. But, as a major blaze in June temporarily shut down the Asos plant in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, demonstrated, even supposedly safer businesses like clothes retailers are prone to large scale fires.
All warehouses are packed full of working electrical and other components that are susceptible to fire. As many operate round the clock, the threat of a potentially disastrous fire is always present.
These simple seven steps can help businesses reduce the risk of a warehouse fire...
What is Flood Re?
In 2011, the industry formally recommended Flood Re as a long-term flood insurance solution in the UK and after lengthy negotiations an outline agreement between the Government and the insurance industry was reached in June 2013. Since then the industry and Government have been working through the finer detail, and the Water Bill, legislating the powers to set up Flood Re has been working through Parliament. Royal Assent for the Water Bill was gained in May 2014. The Secondary Legislation which comprises of the regulations and the Scheme document, were laid before parliament in April 2015. This paves the way for the Secretary of State to designate Flood Re as the scheme administrator of the Flood Re scheme which we expect to happen after the election.
The right insurance gives peace of mind for owners of empty commercial properties
Just because a commercial building is empty and locked up, doesn’t mean the owner can afford to stop being vigilant.
Unused buildings remain susceptible to many risks including fire, break-in and vandalism, and unless owners take proper precautions, it may affect their insurance claims in the event of an incident.
Here are some reasonable steps that all owners can take to keep their property secure and within the terms of their insurance policies...
